biostudies-literatureDu XThis research was funded by the Construction of Rural Revitalization Industry Technology In-novation Center and Demonstration Base in Yellow River DeltaScience and Technology Projects in Gansu ProvinceConstruction of Rural Revitalization Industry Technology Innovation Center and Demonstration Base in the Yellow River Deltathe Science and Technology Projects in Gansu Provincethe Strategic Priority Research Program (A) of Chinese Academy of SciencesStrategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences3211https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9686964biostudies-literatureUnknown12(22)The fruit of <i>Nitraria tangutorum</i> (FNT) is reputed to possess medicinal properties; however, its effect on sheep (<i>Ovis aries</i>) is unknown. The aim of this study was to fill this gap. In a 3 × 3 Latin square design, six 12-month-old rumen-fistulated Hu rams (56.2 ± 8.26 kg; mean ± SD) were penned individually and offered one of three levels of FNT, namely, 0 g/d (control; CON), 16 g/d (N₁₆), and 48 g/d (N₄₈). The concentration of serum immunoglobulin G increased linearly (<i>p</i> = 0.03) with an increasing intake of FNT. The serum concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate in the N₄₈ group was lower than in the CON group (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and decreased linearly with increasing FNT (<i>p</i> = 0.001). The concentration of serum lactate dehydrogenase tendAnimals : an open access journal from MDPIDietary Supplementation of Fruit from <i>Nitraria tangutorum</i> Improved Immunity and Abundance of Beneficial Ruminal Bacteria in Hu Sheep.PMC9686964XDA2604030122JR5RA078E141050101Yang GLiang YDu XJi KJiao DDegen AADong QCheng XZhou JWu XfalseDietary Supplementation of Fruit from <i>Nitraria tangutorum</i> Improved Immunity and Abundance of Beneficial Ruminal Bacteria in Hu Sheep.The fruit of <i>Nitraria tangutorum</i> (FNT) is reputed to possess medicinal properties; however, its effect on sheep (<i>Ovis aries</i>) is unknown. The aim of this study was to fill this gap. In a 3 × 3 Latin square design, six 12-month-old rumen-fistulated Hu rams (56.2 ± 8.26 kg; mean ± SD) were penned individually and offered one of three levels of FNT, namely, 0 g/d (control; CON), 16 g/d (N₁₆), and 48 g/d (N₄₈). The concentration of serum immunoglobulin G increased linearly (<i>p</i> = 0.03) with an increasing intake of FNT. The serum concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate in the N₄₈ group was lower than in the CON group (<i>p</i> = 0.01) and decreased linearly with increasing FNT (<i>p</i> = 0.001). The concentration of serum lactate dehydrogenase tend2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Nov2026-04-08T15:56:24.726Z2025-02-19T04:37:08.283ZS-EPMC96869643642843910.3390/ani12223211