Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background: Hu sheep, renowned for their prolificacy and economic value, have been introduced to Xinjiang for intensive farming operations. However, their suboptimal adaptation to local harsh environments limits growth efficiency and health management. In contrast, Duolang sheep, an indigenous Xinjiang breed, exhibit exceptional environmental resilience, largely attributed to their unique rumen microbiome enriched with fiber-degrading bacteria, which enhance roughage utilization and stress tolerance. To address Hu sheep’s adaptive challenges, this study applies Ligilactobacillus salivarius KS1018, a probiotic strain isolated from Duolang sheep, to Hu sheep, investigating its role in improving rumen microbial homeostasis, metabolic adaptation, and physiological resilience under Xinjiang’s environmental conditions. Results: Thirty-two male Hu lambs were allocated into four groups: Control (C) and three treatment groups receiving daily doses of 0.5×109 CFU/d (low-dose group, LLS, 1.0×109 CFU/d (medium-dose group, MLS), or 1.5×109 CFU/d (high-dose group, HLS) for 56 days. Although growth performance did not reveal significant enhancement, supplementation with the high dose of L. salivarius KS1018 (HLS group) significantly reduced ruminal NH3-N (p < 0.05) and increased total VFAs (p = 0.043), alongside elevated serum triglycerides (p = 0.021) and β-hydroxybutyrate (p < 0.05), indicating enhanced nitrogen utilization and ketogenesis. Rumen metabolomics revealed dose-dependent metabolic shifts: group HLS prioritized oxidative phosphorylation and pyrimidine metabolism (p < 0.001), while group MLS upregulated branched-chain amino acid biosynthesis (p < 0.01). Procrustes analysis confirmed strong microbiome-metabolome coordination (M2 = 0.56, p = 0.001), linking Lachnospira and Negativicutes enrichment to VFA production and redox homeostasis. Group HLS exhibited a decline in ruminal pH, suggesting a potential risk of subacute acidosis at higher doses. Conclusions: L. salivarius KS1018 optimizes rumen metabolism through microbial-host crosstalk, improving nitrogen efficiency and stress resilience in Hu sheep. The strain promoted ketogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation pathways, which alleviated oxidative stress and enhanced immune function under environmental challenges. Notably, the arid-adaptive genetic traits likely contribute to stabilizing rumen microbial networks, mimicking the superior roughage utilization capacity of its native Duolang sheep host. Our findings highlight the potential of L. salivarius KS1018 as a metabolic modulator in ruminant nutrition, redefining its role beyond traditional growth-centric applications.
INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - HILIC, Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - HILIC
PROVIDER: MTBLS12659 | MetaboLights | 2025-08-02
REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights
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