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This experiment explored the effects of different proportions of sweet sorghum silage as a substitute for corn silage on dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, milk quality, apparent digestibility, rumen fermentation parameters, serum amino acid profile, and rumen microbial composition of dairy cows. A total of 32 mid‐lactation Holstein dairy cows with similar body weights and parities were randomly divided into four treatments: 100% corn silage +0% sorghum silage (CON), 75% corn silage +25% sorghum silage (CS1), 50% corn silage +50% sorghum silage (CS2), and 25% corn silage +75% sorghum silage (CS3). The milk yield was increased (linear, p =.048) as the proportion of sweet sorghum increased. Linear (p =.003) and quadratic (p =.046) increased effects were observed in milk fat as corn silage was replaced with sorghum silage. Compared with the CON diet group, the CS2 and CS3 diet groups had lower dry matter (DM) (linear, p <.001), ether extract (EE) (linear, p <.001), and gross energy (GE) (linear, p =.001) digestibility of the dairy cows. The ruminal fluid aspartate (Asp) level decreased (linear, p =.003) as the proportion of sweet sorghum increased. Linear (p <.05) and quadratic (p <.05) increased effects were observed for the contents of threonine (Thr), glycine (Gly), valine (Val), leucine (Leu), tyrosine (Tyr), and histidine (His) in rumen fluid with the replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage. Cows fed the CS3 diet had greater Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, and Prevotella ruminicola content/copy number than those fed the CON diet (p <.05). In conclusion, feeding sorghum silage as a replacement for corn silage could increase the milk yield and fat, promote the growth of rumen microbes, and provide more rumen fluid amino acids for the body and microbial utilization. We believe that sorghum silage is feasible for dairy cows, and it is reasonable to replace corn silage with 75% sorghum silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tea tree oil (TTO) is a plant‐derived additive with anti‐inflammatory, bactericidal, and growth‐promoting properties. However, little is known about the effects of TTO on intestinal amino acid transport and immune function in goats. Twenty‐four Ganxi goats (initial body weight of 13.5 ± 0.70 kg) were randomly allotted two treatments and fed either control (CON) or CON+TTO (0.2 ml/kg) diet. The addition of TTO to the diet significantly decreased (p <.05) tumor necrosis factor‐α content and increased (p <.05) interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) content in goat serum; significantly decreased (p <.05) IL‐12, and increased (p <.05) IL‐2 content in goat ileal mucosa; significantly increased (p <.05) secreted IgA content in the jejunal and ileal mucosa; significantly upregulated (p <.05) IL‐2 and downregulated (p <.05) IL‐12 at the mRNA level in the ileal mucosa; significantly elevated the levels of serine, arginine, and total amino acids in the ileal mucosa (p <.05); significantly upregulated (p <.05) SLC1A1 and SLC7A1 in the ileum; and significantly enhanced (p <.05) the protein expression of Claudin‐1 in the ileal mucosa. In summary, adding 0.2 ml/kg of TTO to the diet enhanced SLC1A1 and SLC7A1 mRNA expression in the ileal mucosa, and SLC1A1 and SLC7A1 could transport serine and arginine from the chyme to the ileal mucosa. Thus, increased serine and arginine content in the mucosa could improve intestinal immunity. TTO supplementation upregulated the expression of IL‐2 and Claudin‐1 in goat ileal mucosa, and enhanced immune function in the intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]