Herbal formula alleviates heat stress by improving physiological and biochemical attributes and modulating the rumen microbiome in dairy cows.

IF 2.6 2区农林科学 Q1 VETERINARY SCIENCES

Frontiers in Veterinary Science Pub Date : 2025-03-07 eCollection Date: 2025-01-01 DOI:10.3389/fvets.2025.1558856

Xiaofang Wang, Yawen Wang, Man Feng, Jiefeng Li, Ze Liu, Le Fu, Ning Zhang, Huaying Zhang, Jianhua Qin

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Abstract

Heat stress significantly impacts dairy cow productivity, health, and welfare. This study evaluated a self-developed herbal formula as a dietary intervention to mitigate heat stress. A total of 198 lactating cows were divided into two groups: a Control group receiving standard total mixed rations and a Herbs group supplemented with herbal formula for 60 days. Various parameters were assessed, including milk yield and composition, antioxidant capacity, immune responses, stress-related gene expression, and rumen microbial composition. Compared to the Control group, cows in the Herbs group showed improved feed intake, milk yield and quality, rumination frequency, and enhanced antioxidant activity and immune response. Rumen microbiome analysis revealed a reduced relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Ochrobactrum in the Herbs group, along with an enrichment of beneficial genera such as Lachnospira. Functional predictions indicated that the Herbs group exhibited enhanced glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, pyruvate metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism, reflecting improved fermentation efficiency and energy utilization. In conclusion, the herbal formula improved physiological and biochemical attributes, boosted antioxidant and immune responses, and modulated the rumen microbiome, contributing to the alleviation of heat stress in dairy cows. These findings highlight its potential as a natural dietary strategy to support dairy cow health and productivity under heat stress conditions.

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来源期刊

Frontiers in Veterinary Science Veterinary-General Veterinary

CiteScore

4.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1870

审稿时长

14 weeks

期刊介绍： Frontiers in Veterinary Science is a global, peer-reviewed, Open Access journal that bridges animal and human health, brings a comparative approach to medical and surgical challenges, and advances innovative biotechnology and therapy. Veterinary research today is interdisciplinary, collaborative, and socially relevant, transforming how we understand and investigate animal health and disease. Fundamental research in emerging infectious diseases, predictive genomics, stem cell therapy, and translational modelling is grounded within the integrative social context of public and environmental health, wildlife conservation, novel biomarkers, societal well-being, and cutting-edge clinical practice and specialization. Frontiers in Veterinary Science brings a 21st-century approach—networked, collaborative, and Open Access—to communicate this progress and innovation to both the specialist and to the wider audience of readers in the field. Frontiers in Veterinary Science publishes articles on outstanding discoveries across a wide spectrum of translational, foundational, and clinical research. The journal''s mission is to bring all relevant veterinary sciences together on a single platform with the goal of improving animal and human health.