Dietary β-hydroxybutyrate sodium alters rumen microbiome and nutrient metabolism in the rumen epithelium of young goats

Authors

• Yimin Zhuang, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Guanglei Liu, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Chuyun Jiang, Foshan University
• Mahmoud M. Abdelsattar, hinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
• Yuze Fu, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,
• Ying Li, Foshan University
• Naifeng Zhang, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
• Jianmin Chai, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2026

Keywords

goats, β-hydroxybutyrate acid, rumen microbiota, rumen transcriptome, rumen epithelial metabolomic, rumen epithelium development

Abstract

The role of β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) includes providing energy, regulating signaling pathways, and ameliorating the gut microbiota in the host, while its nutrient mechanism to improve rumen epithelium development in young ruminants is still unclear. In this study, a total of 12 female Haimen goats with 30 d of age were chosen and divided into two groups. One group was fed with basic diet (CON), and the other group was fed a basal diet supplemented with 6 g d^–1 dietary β-hydroxybutyrate sodium (BHBA-Na). The experimental period was 30 d, and all goats were slaughtered at 60 d of age. The joint analysis of multi-omics, including rumen microbiota, rumen epithelial transcriptome and rumen epithelial metabolomics in young goat model, was performed to systematically investigate the effect of dietary BHBA-Na on rumen development in young goats. As the results, we found that dietary BHBA-Na improved the growth performance of young goat including body weight, average daily gain (ADG) and dry matter intake (DMI) (P< 0.05). Dietary BHBA-Na also increased the weight of rumen, and promoted the growth of rumen epithelium development (P< 0.05). The abundance of several beneficial bacteria was increased (Fibrobacter, Succinivibrio, Clostridiales, etc.). The rumen epithelium transcriptome and metabolomics indicated that BHBA-Na supplementation showed a remarkable effect on the nutrient metabolism of the rumen epithelium. Specifically, the pathways of “fatty acid metabolism”, “cholesterol homeostasis”, “reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway” and “peroxisome” were activated in response to BHBA-Na addition (P< 0.05). Moreover, the genes (HMGCS2, ECSH1, ACAA2, ECH1, ACADS etc.) and metabolites (succinic acid, alpha-ketoisovaleric acid, etc.) involved in these pathways were also regulated positively (P< 0.05). The rumen epithelium obtained the energy for its development from the process of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) decomposition. Finally, we observed the close correlations among the phenotypes, ruminal microbiota, host genes and epithelial metabolites. Overall, our results revealed that the BHBA-Na promoted the growth and rumen development of young goats possibly by enhancing DMI and regulating the rumen microbiota and the metabolisms of VFA and amino acid in the rumen epithelium.

Citation

Yimin Zhuang, Guanglei Liu, Chuyun Jiang, Mahmoud M Abdelsattar, Yuze Fu, Ying Li, Naifeng Zhang, Jianmin Chai, Dietary β-hydroxybutyrate sodium alters rumen microbiome and nutrient metabolism in the rumen epithelium of young goats, Journal of Integrative Agriculture, Volume 25, Issue 4, 2026, Pages 1619-1635, ISSN 2095-3119, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jia.2024.11.016.

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