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Effects of Adding Butyrate or Exogenous Fibrolytic Enzymes on Ruminal Epithelium, Metabolism, and Microbiota of Beef Cattle
by
, , , , , , , and
Daniel Moretto Casali
1,
Kalista Eloisa Loregian
2,
Leandro Aparecido Ferreira da Silva
1,
Ana Laura Januário Lelis
1,
Rodrigo José de Oliveira
2,
Daniel Hideki Mariano Watanabe
2,
Johnny Maciel Souza
2,
Garret Suen
3 and
Danilo Domingues Millen
2,* 1
School of Agricultural Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-618, SP, Brazil
2
School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
3
Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53707, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(23), 3380; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15233380
Submission received: 3 October 2025
/
Revised: 7 November 2025
/
Accepted: 19 November 2025
/
Published: 21 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Nutrition)
Simple Summary
In modern beef production, cattle are often fed high-grain diets to enhance performance, but this can cause digestive stress if the ruminal papillae are not properly developed. We evaluated whether adding dietary sodium butyrate or exogenous fibrolytic enzymes could improve ruminal epithelial development and metabolism in feedlot cattle. The enzymes showed minor benefits for digestion, but neither additive significantly improved the ruminal papillae structure at the tested doses. These findings indicate that while such additives may have potential, their effects were limited under our conditions, and further research with different doses or combinations is needed. Proper papillae development is essential not only for maintaining rumen health but also for maximizing cattle growth and productivity, since it ensures the efficient absorption of short-chain fatty acids, the main energy source for ruminants.
Abstract
Feedlot cattle produce high concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) through ruminal fermentation, with butyrate playing a crucial role in epithelial development and SCFA absorption. This study evaluated the effects of dietary sodium butyrate or exogenous fibrolytic enzymes on the ruminal epithelium and microbiota. Three rumen-cannulated Aberdeen Angus steers were assigned to a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design, totaling six experimental periods. Each period lasted 28 d, comprising 14 d of adaptation and 14 d of finishing. Diets only differed in additive inclusion: CON—control; ENZ—exogenous enzyme complex (0.01% of the dry matter [DM]); BUT—sodium butyrate (0.3% DM during adaptation; 0.1% during finishing). The ENZ reduced the ruminal temperature (p = 0.04), and Diplodinium population (p = 0.03). The CON animals had greater lipopolysaccharide-binding protein concentration (p = 0.02). No treatment effects were observed for the alpha and beta diversity of bacterial communities, but shifts in abundance at the phylum level were detected for Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria. Papillae dimensions were not significantly altered by treatments (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that while BUT and ENZ have some influence on the ruminal environment, their effects at the tested doses were limited, indicating the need for further studies with varying doses or combinations.
Keywords:
additives; feed additives; metabolism; microbiology; ruminal papillae
