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Objective: The effects of maternal undernutrition during midgestation on muscle fiber histology, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression, methylation modification of myogenic factors, and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in the skeletal muscles of prenatal and postnatal goats were examined. Methods: Twenty-four pregnant goats were assigned to a control (100% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) or a restricted group (60% of the nutrients requirement, n = 12) between 45 and 100 days of gestation. Descendants were harvested at day 100 of gestation and at day 90 after birth to collect the femoris muscle tissue. Results: Maternal undernutrition increased (p<0.05) the fiber area of the vastus muscle in the fetuses and enhanced (p<0.01) the proportions of MyHCI and MyHCIIA fibers in offspring, while the proportion of MyHCIIX fibers was decreased (p<0.01). DNA methylation at the +530 cytosine-guanine dinucleotide (CpG) site of the myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) promoter in restricted fetuses was increased (p<0.05), but the methylation of the MYF5 gene at the +274,280 CpG site and of the myogenic differentiation (MYOD) gene at the +252 CpG site in restricted kids was reduced (p<0.05). mTOR protein signals were downregulated (p<0.05) in the restricted offspring. Conclusion: Maternal undernutrition altered the muscle fiber type in offspring, but its relationship with methylation in the promoter regions of myogenic genes needs to be elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of different zinc (Zn) sources on body weight, body size, serum biochemical indexes and mineral concentrations in Liuyang pregnant goats and their offspring. Twenty-four two-years-old Liuyang Black goats were randomly allocated to three groups and fed a basal corn-soybean meal diet supplemented respectively with Zn-sulfate (ZnS), Zn-methionine (ZnM), Zn-glycinate (ZnG) at 60 mg/kg Zn for the last 52 days of gestation. The weight and chest circumference of kids in the ZnG group were significantly higher than those in the ZnS group. The concentrations of CHOL and HDL in the serum were significantly higher in the ZnG group than that in the ZnM group 10 days before gestation, but CRPL levels were significantly higher in the ZnS group than in other two groups. The serum ALP activity of 60-day old kid-goats was significantly higher than that of 30-day old and 100-day old ones. The concentrations of potassium and Zn in serum of ZnG group were significantly higher than that of ZnS group. These findings revealed that ZnG as dietary supplementation can improve the performance of kidgoats, while ZnG and ZnM can enhance the immunity of pregnant and postpartum goats, and ZnG supplement is better than ZnM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rumen microbiota play a central role in the digestive process of ruminants. Their remarkable ability to break down complex plant fibers and proteins, converting them into essential organic compounds that provide animals with energy and nutrition. Research on rumen microbiota not only contributes to improving animal production performance and enhancing feed utilization efficiency but also holds the potential to reduce methane emissions and environmental impact. Nevertheless, studies on rumen microbiota face numerous challenges, including complexity, difficulties in cultivation, and obstacles in functional analysis. This review provides an overview of microbial species involved in the degradation of macromolecules, the fermentation processes, and methane production in the rumen, all based on cultivation methods. Additionally, the review introduces the applications, advantages, and limitations of emerging omics technologies such as metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, metaproteomics, and metabolomics, in investigating the functionality of rumen microbiota. Finally, the article offers a forward-looking perspective on the new horizons and technologies in the field of rumen microbiota functional research. These emerging technologies, with continuous refinement and mutual complementation, have deepened our understanding of rumen microbiota functionality, thereby enabling effective manipulation of the rumen microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of high rice grain diet on apparent nutrient digestibility, growth performance, nitrogen digestion, blood parameters and rumen fermentation in goats. Sixteen growing goats were divided into 2 groups and fed a normalconcentrate diet (NC, 55% concentrate of dry matter; n=8) or a high concentrate diet (HC, 90% concentrate of dry matter; n=8) for 5 wk. Growth performance, nutrients digestibility, nitrogen digestion, blood parameters and ruminal fermentation were measured. Total weight gain and average daily gain increased in the HC group (P<0.01). Digestibility of Neutral Detergent Fibre (NDF) and Acid Detergent Fibre (ADF), nitrogen intake and digested nitrogen also increased (P<0.05) by HC feeding. Triglycerides, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein concentrations in the blood decreased (P<0.05). HC diet feeding decreased (P<0.01) the pH value, acetate level and ratio of acetate to propionate, but increased (P<0.05) the concentrations of propionate, valerate and total volatile fatty acids in the rumen. These findings revealed that the HC diet could promote the growth of growing goats, change the ruminal fermentation pattern and lipid metabolism in the blood, but cause subacute ruminal acidosis, which might increase the risk of body health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Momordica charantia saponin (MCS) on ruminal fermentation of maize stover and abundance of selected microbial populations in vitro. Five levels of MCS supplements (0, 0.01, 0.06, 0.30, 0.60 mg/mL) were tested. The pH, NH3-N, and volatile fatty acid were measured at 6, 24, 48 h of in vitro mixed incubation fluids, whilst the selected microbial populations were determined at 6 and 24 h. The high dose of MCS increased the initial fractional rate of degradation at t-value = 0 (FRD0) and the fractional rate of gas production (k), but decreased the theoretical maximum of gas production (VF) and the half-life (t0.5) compared with the control. The NH3-N concentration reached the lowest concentration with 0.01 mg MCS/mL at 6 h. The MSC inclusion increased (p<0.001) the molar proportion of butyrate, isovalerate at 24 h and 48 h, and the molar proportion of acetate at 24 h, but then decreased (p<0.05) them at 48 h. The molar proportion of valerate was increased (p<0.05) at 24 h. The acetate to propionate ratio (A/P; linear, p<0.01) was increased at 24 h, but reached the least value at the level of 0.30 mg/mL MCS. The MCS inclusion decreased (p<0.05) the molar proportion of propionate at 24 h and then increased it at 48 h. The concentration of total volatile fatty acid was decreased (p<0.001) at 24 h, but reached the greatest concentration at the level of 0.01 mg/mL and the least concentration at the level of 0.60 mg/mL. The relative abundance of Ruminococcus albus was increased at 6 h and 24 h, and the relative abundance of Fibrobacter succinogenes was the lowest (p<0.05) at 0.60 mg/mL at 6 h and 24 h. The relative abundance of Butyrivibriofibrisolvens and fungus reached the greatest value (p<0.05) at low doses of MCS inclusion and the least value (p<0.05) at 0.60 mg/mL at 24 h. The present results demonstrates that a high level of MCS quickly inhibits in vitrofermentation of maize stover, while MCS at low doses has the ability to modulate the ruminal fermentation pattern by regulating the number of functional rumen microbes including cellulolytic bacteria and fungi populations, and may have potential as a feed additive applied in the diets of ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]