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Microorganisms
Volume 13
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10.3390/microorganisms13102377
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Rumen-Protected Leucine Improved Growth Performance of Fattening Sheep by Changing Rumen Fermentation Patterns

by
Shu Li
,
Jiantao Zhao
,
Peng Zhang
,
Shaoyang Pang
,
Mingyu Ma
,
Yifan Nie
,
Zhenzi Xu
,
Sijin Li
,
Yuanyuan Li
and
Wenju Zhang
*
College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832000, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(10), 2377; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102377
Submission received: 18 August 2025 / Revised: 1 October 2025 / Accepted: 11 October 2025 / Published: 15 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Gut Microbiota)
Versions Notes

Abstract

This experiment investigated the effects of rumen-protected leucine (RP-Leu) supplementation on growth performance, rumen fermentation parameters, and rumen microbiota of fattening sheep. Forty fattening sheep (19.03 ± 0.38 kg) were randomly divided into four groups. The four groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with RP-Leu at 0 (L-0), 0.5 (L-0.5), 1.0 (L-1.0), or 1.5 (L-1.5) g/d. The experimental period lasted 67 d. The results demonstrated that compared with the L-0 group, the L-1.0 and L-1.5 groups significantly increased the average daily gain (ADG) by 22.2% and 18.0%, respectively (p < 0.05), and reduced the feed-to-gain ratio (F:G ratio) by 20.0% and 13.4% (p < 0.05); the L-1.5 group significantly increased the concentrations of propionate and isovalerate (p < 0.05) and significantly decreased the acetate to propionate ratio (A:P) by 25.7% (p < 0.05); and the L-1.0 group significantly decreased the concentrations of free branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in rumen (p < 0.05). A microbiota analysis showed that RP-Leu enriched the abundance of fiber-degrading bacteria. A correlation analysis showed that acetic acid and A:P were positively correlated with norank_f_F082 and norank_f_UCG-011 (p < 0.05). Phenylalanine, isoleucine, valine, and leucine were negatively correlated with norank_o_Bacteroidales (p < 0.05). In conclusion, RP-Leu improved the growth performance of fattening sheep by changing the rumen fermentation parameters and patterns; the optimal supplementation level is 1.0 g/d.
Keywords: branched-chain amino acid; rumen; fermentation parameters; free amino acids; microbiota branched-chain amino acid; rumen; fermentation parameters; free amino acids; microbiota

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Li, S.; Zhao, J.; Zhang, P.; Pang, S.; Ma, M.; Nie, Y.; Xu, Z.; Li, S.; Li, Y.; Zhang, W. Rumen-Protected Leucine Improved Growth Performance of Fattening Sheep by Changing Rumen Fermentation Patterns. Microorganisms 2025, 13, 2377. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102377

AMA Style

Li S, Zhao J, Zhang P, Pang S, Ma M, Nie Y, Xu Z, Li S, Li Y, Zhang W. Rumen-Protected Leucine Improved Growth Performance of Fattening Sheep by Changing Rumen Fermentation Patterns. Microorganisms. 2025; 13(10):2377. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102377

Chicago/Turabian Style

Li, Shu, Jiantao Zhao, Peng Zhang, Shaoyang Pang, Mingyu Ma, Yifan Nie, Zhenzi Xu, Sijin Li, Yuanyuan Li, and Wenju Zhang. 2025. "Rumen-Protected Leucine Improved Growth Performance of Fattening Sheep by Changing Rumen Fermentation Patterns" Microorganisms 13, no. 10: 2377. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102377

APA Style

Li, S., Zhao, J., Zhang, P., Pang, S., Ma, M., Nie, Y., Xu, Z., Li, S., Li, Y., & Zhang, W. (2025). Rumen-Protected Leucine Improved Growth Performance of Fattening Sheep by Changing Rumen Fermentation Patterns. Microorganisms, 13(10), 2377. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13102377

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