{"title":"Cecropin supplementation improves growth performance by regulating immune function, rumen fermentation and microbiota in goats.","authors":"Xinhong Zhou, Xiaoyun Shen","doi":"10.5713/ab.25.0103","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study aimed to determine the effects of cecropin on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, rumen fermentation parameters, and rumen microbiota of goats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twelve male Yudong black goats were randomly divided into two groups, with 6 replicates per group. The control group (CON) was fed a basic diet, while the antimicrobial peptide group (AMP) received a diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg cecropin. The experimental period lasted for 60 days.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared with the CON group, the AMP group showed significantly improved FW (35.46 vs. 37.33 kg, p < 0.05), ADG (205.19 vs. 234.78 g/d, p < 0.05), and reduced F/G (6.45 vs. 5.66, p < 0.05). The AMP group presented significantly higher SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities and T-AOC levels in the serum, while the MDA content was significantly lower (P<0.05). Furthermore, compared with the CON group, the levels of IgG, IgA, and IL-10 in the AMP group were significantly increased, while the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In the rumen fluid, the AMP group presented significantly greater propionate and TVFA levels, with a significantly lower acetate/propionate ratio (P<0.05). Microbial analysis revealed differences in rumen microbiota diversity and composition between the two groups. At the phylum level, the AMP group presented significantly greater abundances of Bacteroidota, Fibrobacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Elusimicrobiota, whereas the Firmicutes abundance was significantly lower than that in the CON group (P<0.05). At the genus level, the AMP group presented significantly greater abundances of Prevotella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, F082, Fibrobacter, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Bacteroidales_RF16_group, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and UCG-010, whereas the abundances of Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Butyrivibrio were significantly lower (P<0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Overall, these results suggest that adding 500 mg/kg cecropin to the diet promotes goat growth performance by improving serum antioxidant capacity and immune function, optimizing rumen fermentation parameters, and modulating rumen microbiota.</p>","PeriodicalId":7825,"journal":{"name":"Animal Bioscience","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Animal Bioscience","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.5713/ab.25.0103","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of cecropin on the growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune function, rumen fermentation parameters, and rumen microbiota of goats.
Methods: Twelve male Yudong black goats were randomly divided into two groups, with 6 replicates per group. The control group (CON) was fed a basic diet, while the antimicrobial peptide group (AMP) received a diet supplemented with 500 mg/kg cecropin. The experimental period lasted for 60 days.
Results: Compared with the CON group, the AMP group showed significantly improved FW (35.46 vs. 37.33 kg, p < 0.05), ADG (205.19 vs. 234.78 g/d, p < 0.05), and reduced F/G (6.45 vs. 5.66, p < 0.05). The AMP group presented significantly higher SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT activities and T-AOC levels in the serum, while the MDA content was significantly lower (P<0.05). Furthermore, compared with the CON group, the levels of IgG, IgA, and IL-10 in the AMP group were significantly increased, while the levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In the rumen fluid, the AMP group presented significantly greater propionate and TVFA levels, with a significantly lower acetate/propionate ratio (P<0.05). Microbial analysis revealed differences in rumen microbiota diversity and composition between the two groups. At the phylum level, the AMP group presented significantly greater abundances of Bacteroidota, Fibrobacterota, Desulfobacterota, and Elusimicrobiota, whereas the Firmicutes abundance was significantly lower than that in the CON group (P<0.05). At the genus level, the AMP group presented significantly greater abundances of Prevotella, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, F082, Fibrobacter, Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Bacteroidales_RF16_group, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and UCG-010, whereas the abundances of Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Butyrivibrio were significantly lower (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Overall, these results suggest that adding 500 mg/kg cecropin to the diet promotes goat growth performance by improving serum antioxidant capacity and immune function, optimizing rumen fermentation parameters, and modulating rumen microbiota.
目的:研究天蚕素对山羊生长性能、抗氧化能力、免疫功能、瘤胃发酵参数及瘤胃微生物群的影响。方法:选用12只雄性豫东黑山羊,随机分为2组,每组6个重复。对照组饲喂基础饲粮,抗菌肽组饲喂在基础饲粮中添加500 mg/kg天蚕素的饲粮。试验期60 d。结果:与CON组相比,AMP组显著提高了FW (35.46 vs. 37.33 kg, p < 0.05)、ADG (205.19 vs. 234.78 g/d, p < 0.05)、降低了F/ g (6.45 vs. 5.66, p < 0.05)。AMP组显著提高了血清中SOD、GSH-Px、CAT活性和T-AOC水平,显著降低了MDA含量(p)。结论:综上所示,饲粮中添加500 mg/kg天蚕素可通过提高血清抗氧化能力和免疫功能、优化瘤胃发酵参数和调节瘤胃微生物群来促进山羊生长性能。