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Animals
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Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production
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Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 3170

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhiyuan Ma

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
Interests: rumen metabolism; methane emission; ruminants
Dr. Ting Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Interests: rumen development; lambs; starter feed; carbohydrates
Dr. Weiwei Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
Interests: rumen microbiota; fiber digestion; in vitro rumen fermentation; ruminal microcommunity ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In an era where the demand for sustainable and efficient agricultural practices is paramount, the optimization of ruminant production systems plays a crucial role. This Special Issue, “Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production”, addresses a pivotal aspect of ruminant nutrition: the effective utilization of fiber. Fiber, an abundant yet often underexploited component in ruminant diets, holds the potential to transform the sustainability and efficiency of livestock production. Moreover, the proper utilization of fiber is not only critical for enhancing feed efficiency and reducing environmental impacts but also for promoting the health and welfare of ruminant animals. This issue delves into how fiber can support rumen function, prevent metabolic disorders, and contribute to the overall well-being of ruminants. Join us as we explore the latest research and insights that aim to unlock the full potential of fiber in ruminant diets, contributing to a more sustainable, efficient, and welfare-conscious future for the industry.

Dr. Zhiyuan Ma
Dr. Ting Liu
Dr. Weiwei Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fiber
  • carbohydrate
  • digestion
  • methane
  • performance
  • supplementation
  • ruminant
  • microbiota
  • rumen health
  • rumen development

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 6807 KiB  
Article
Effects of Yeast Culture on Lamb Growth Performance, Rumen Microbiota, and Metabolites
by Jinlong Xu, Xiongxiong Li, Qingshan Fan, Shengguo Zhao and Ting Jiao
Animals 2025, 15(5), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050738 - 5 Mar 2025
Viewed by 530
Abstract
The effects of incorporating yeast culture (YC) into pelleted feeds on sheep production and the potential impact on rumen microbial populations, microbial metabolism, and fermentation have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of YC on growth performance, rumen [...] Read more.
The effects of incorporating yeast culture (YC) into pelleted feeds on sheep production and the potential impact on rumen microbial populations, microbial metabolism, and fermentation have not been extensively studied. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of YC on growth performance, rumen tissue development, rumen fermentation, and rumen microflora in sheep and to explore the potential microbial mechanisms involved. Fifty healthy 3-month-old male lambs of small-tailed Han sheep, with an average weight of 28.44 ± 0.63 kg, were randomly divided into five groups: control (0% YC), 3% YC, 6% YC, 9% YC, and 12% YC. The pre-feeding period lasted for 15 days, followed by an official feeding period of 60 days. On the last day of the formal feeding period, six lambs that exhibited the best growth performance were randomly selected from the control group and the 9% YC group. These sheep were slaughtered, then the rumen epithelial tissue and rumen contents were collected for the measurement of rumen fermentation, microbial populations, and metabolites. Compared to the control group, the YC-treated groups showed higher daily and final body weight gains, as well as increased levels of propionic acid, butyric acid, and total volatile fatty acids (p < 0.05). YC supplementation also enhanced rumen papilla length and width (p < 0.05). Additionally, YC increased the relative abundance of certain microbial species (p < 0.05). These results suggest that supplementing 9% YC in pelleted diets for small-tailed Han sheep may enhance growth performance and improve the rumen environment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production)
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17 pages, 3100 KiB  
Article
Hotspot Analysis of Rumen Microbiota and Methane Mitigation in Ruminants: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1998 to 2023
by Xueyue Zheng, Lijie Tang, Rong Wang, Xiumin Zhang, Min Wang and Duanqin Wu
Animals 2025, 15(5), 681; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15050681 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 396
Abstract
Methane (CH4) is the second-most abundant greenhouse gas, following carbon dioxide (CO2), and has a warming potential 28 times greater than CO2 [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production)
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20 pages, 782 KiB  
Article
Effect of Hemp Seed Oil on Milk Performance, Blood Parameters, Milk Fatty Acid Profile, and Rumen Microbial Population in Milk-Producing Buffalo: Preliminary Study
by Qichao Gu, Bo Lin, Dan Wan, Zhiwei Kong, Qinfeng Tang, Qi Yan, Xinghua Cai, Hao Ding, Guangsheng Qin and Caixia Zou
Animals 2025, 15(4), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15040514 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 715
Abstract
Vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids have been shown to improve animal health and enrich milk with functional fatty acids in various studies. This study investigates the effects of dietary supplementation with hemp seed oil (HSO), a native vegetable oil from the [...] Read more.
Vegetable oils rich in unsaturated fatty acids have been shown to improve animal health and enrich milk with functional fatty acids in various studies. This study investigates the effects of dietary supplementation with hemp seed oil (HSO), a native vegetable oil from the “longevity village” of Bama (Guangxi, China), on the milk performance, milk fatty acid composition, blood indicators, and rumen bacterial community of milk-producing buffalo. Seventeen healthy, four-year-old, crossbred, milk-producing buffaloes with the same parity (three), as well as similar body weights (BW = 580 ± 25 kg), number of days producing milk (DIM, 153 ± 10 d), and milk yields (8.56 ± 0.89 kg/d) were divided into three groups (n = 6, 5, and 6) and assigned to the following diets: (1) no HSO supplement (H0, n = 6), (2) a supplement of 100 g/d of HSO (H1, n = 5), and (3) a supplement of 200 g/d of HSO (H2, n = 6). The total experimental period was 42 days (including a 14-day adaptation period and a 28-day treatment period). The data were statistically analyzed by repeated measures analysis of variance. The results showed that compared to that of no HSO supplement group, the dry matter intake (DMI) showed a decreasing tendency (p = 0.06), while feed efficiency and rumen fermentation remained similar across all the groups (p > 0.05) with dietary HSO supplementation. Moreover, with dietary HSO supplementation, the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (p = 0.05) and catalase (CAT) (p < 0.01) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p = 0.02) contents in the serum were greatly increased, with the highest levels observed in the H2 group (increased by 1.16 U/mL, 1.15 U/mL, and 134.51 U/mL, respectively). In contrast, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly decreased with dietary HSO supplementation (p = 0.02) and was the lowest in the H1 group (decreased by 0.72 nmol/mL). The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) content in the blood showed an increasing tendency with dietary HSO supplementation (p = 0.09). Moreover, with dietary HSO supplementation, the proportions of C18:0 (p = 0.02), C18:1n9t (p = 0.02), C18:2n6c (p = 0.02), C18:3n3 (p < 0.01), C18:2n9c (p = 0.04), omega-3 (p = 0.02), and omega-6 (p = 0.02) were significantly increased, with the highest levels observed in the H2 group (increased by 5.29 g/100 g FA, 1.81 g/100 g FA, 0.55 g/100 g FA, 0.14 g/100 g FA, 0.75 g/100 g FA, 0.17 g/100 g FA, and 0.56 g/100 g FA, respectively). Additionally, rumen Acetobacter abundance was significantly affected by HSO addition (p = 0.03), with rumen Acetobacter abundance decreasing in the H1 group (by 0.55%) and increasing in the H2 group (by 0.73%). These results suggest that adding HSO to milk-producing buffalo diets does not affect feed efficiency or rumen fermentation, although it decreases the DMI. Meanwhile, it can improve the nutritional quality of milk, enhance the antioxidant status, and regulate blood lipid metabolism in milk-producing buffaloes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production)
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15 pages, 832 KiB  
Article
Influence of Dietary Forage Neutral Detergent Fiber on Ruminal Fermentation, Chewing Activity, Nutrient Digestion, and Ruminal Microbiota of Hu Sheep
by Zhian Zhang, Fei Li, Fadi Li, Zongli Wang, Long Guo, Xiuxiu Weng, Xuchun Sun, Zhenhu He, Xianyu Meng, Zhaoqing Liang and Xiong Li
Animals 2025, 15(3), 314; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030314 - 23 Jan 2025
Viewed by 705
Abstract
As the key components of dietary carbohydrates, ensuring a balance between forage-neutral detergent fiber (FNDF) and rumen-degradable starch (RDS) is essential for ruminant health. Eight male Hu sheep equipped with rumen cannulas were randomly divided into four groups based on dietary FNDF content: [...] Read more.
As the key components of dietary carbohydrates, ensuring a balance between forage-neutral detergent fiber (FNDF) and rumen-degradable starch (RDS) is essential for ruminant health. Eight male Hu sheep equipped with rumen cannulas were randomly divided into four groups based on dietary FNDF content: low FNDF (L-FNDF, 6.08%), middle low FNDF (ML-FNDF, 9.47%), middle high FNDF (MH-FNDF, 12.48%), and high FNDF (H-FNDF, 15.68%), while the RDS levels (15.65% of DM on average) were similar among the four groups. A replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design was employed in this study. The results indicated that mean and minimum ruminal pH increased linearly with increasing dietary FNDF content, while the duration and area of pH under 5.8 and 5.6, along with the acidosis index, reduced linearly (p ≤ 0.002). There were no differences between the MH-FNDF group and the H-FNDF group in these indicators (p > 0.05). The molar proportions of acetate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate, as well as the acetate-to-propionate ratio, increased linearly, while propionate and valerate molar proportions and lactate concentration displayed a linear decrease with increasing FNDF content in the diet (p < 0.001). Increasing dietary FNDF content extended ruminating and chewing time while enhancing ruminal microbial diversity, promoting the proliferation of Fibrobacterota and Butyrivibrio in the rumen, and improving fiber degradability (p < 0.05). When the dietary FNDF content exceeded 12.48%, no effects of FNDF on acetate to propionate ratio and fiber utilization were observed (p > 0.05). The results suggest that augmenting FNDF content in the PTMR can reshape ruminal fermentation towards acetate production and promote rumination to enhance ruminal pH, thereby alleviating the risk of ruminal acidosis. When the RDS content in the PTMR was 15.57%, an FNDF content of 12.48% was optimal for maintaining stable ruminal function in sheep, and the recommended ratio of FNDF to RDS was 0.8. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production)
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Review

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17 pages, 686 KiB  
Review
Anti-Nutritional Factors of Plant Protein Feeds for Ruminants and Methods for Their Elimination
by Zhiyong Yan, Zixin Liu, Chuanshe Zhou and Zhiliang Tan
Animals 2025, 15(8), 1107; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15081107 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 351
Abstract
In recent years, the rapid development of the ruminant feeding industry and the limited availability and rising prices of traditional protein feed ingredients have renewed the focus on protein feeds in ruminant diets. Plant protein feeds are a core component of protein feeds [...] Read more.
In recent years, the rapid development of the ruminant feeding industry and the limited availability and rising prices of traditional protein feed ingredients have renewed the focus on protein feeds in ruminant diets. Plant protein feeds are a core component of protein feeds for ruminants; however, the utilisation of both conventional and non-conventional plant protein feeds is limited by the presence of anti-nutritional factors (ANFs). In order to maximise the use of plant protein feeds and to promote their application in ruminant production, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the types and nature of their ANFs, their anti-nutritional mechanisms, and current effective methods of eliminating ANFs. Therefore, the types, anti-nutritional mechanisms, and elimination methods of ANFs in major plant protein feeds for ruminants are initially summarised in this review, which provides a reference for anti-nutritional factor elimination and the production of full-price compound feeds for ruminants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Maximizing Fiber Utilization for Sustainable, Efficient Ruminant Production)
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