Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake
Abstract Improving feed efficiency is a key factor in the sustainable development of the livestock industry. Livestock breeds with the low residual feed intake (RFI) trait can reduce feeding costs and increase economic benefits. The rumen metabolome is a pivotal variant affecting ruminant feed effic...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06182-8 |
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| author | ChengLei Song Dongqian He Zhuo Yang Yu Fu Hao Zheng Zhou Xing Wenjuan Shen An Shi Jinzhong Tao |
| author_facet | ChengLei Song Dongqian He Zhuo Yang Yu Fu Hao Zheng Zhou Xing Wenjuan Shen An Shi Jinzhong Tao |
| author_sort | ChengLei Song |
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| description | Abstract Improving feed efficiency is a key factor in the sustainable development of the livestock industry. Livestock breeds with the low residual feed intake (RFI) trait can reduce feeding costs and increase economic benefits. The rumen metabolome is a pivotal variant affecting ruminant feed efficiency, but current research often ignores sex effects on both. The dynamic changes in rumen metabolites in male and female sheep with different RFI were studied to reveal the sex-specific metabolites and pathways related to feed efficiency. By recording the initial body weight, final body weight, and dry matter intake of 345 Chinese Tan sheep, 14 (male: female = 1:1) with extremely low RFI and 16 (male: female = 1:1) with extremely high RFI were selected for non-targeted metabolomics analysis of rumen fluid. Among the 610 metabolites identified, N-acetylneuraminic acid, isoamylamine, and punicic acid had greater content in female sheep with low RFI (AUC > 0.7). In comparison, 29 metabolites had greater content in the rumen fluid of male sheep, including malic acid and 17% free fatty acids. And they were enriched in riboflavin metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and histidine metabolism pathways. The results show that sex affects rumen metabolism and the RFI trait. Given differential metabolite function studies, male sheep may rely on greater concentrations of malic acid and B vitamins to participate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and achieve higher energy utilization efficiency. These findings provide insights into the differences in rumen metabolites linked to the RFI trait and sex differences in sheep. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
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| spelling | doaj-art-f554987907a64d04b4c1f3a6174835d52025-08-20T03:03:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-06182-8Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intakeChengLei Song0Dongqian He1Zhuo Yang2Yu Fu3Hao Zheng4Zhou Xing5Wenjuan Shen6An Shi7Jinzhong Tao8College of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Ningxia UniversityAbstract Improving feed efficiency is a key factor in the sustainable development of the livestock industry. Livestock breeds with the low residual feed intake (RFI) trait can reduce feeding costs and increase economic benefits. The rumen metabolome is a pivotal variant affecting ruminant feed efficiency, but current research often ignores sex effects on both. The dynamic changes in rumen metabolites in male and female sheep with different RFI were studied to reveal the sex-specific metabolites and pathways related to feed efficiency. By recording the initial body weight, final body weight, and dry matter intake of 345 Chinese Tan sheep, 14 (male: female = 1:1) with extremely low RFI and 16 (male: female = 1:1) with extremely high RFI were selected for non-targeted metabolomics analysis of rumen fluid. Among the 610 metabolites identified, N-acetylneuraminic acid, isoamylamine, and punicic acid had greater content in female sheep with low RFI (AUC > 0.7). In comparison, 29 metabolites had greater content in the rumen fluid of male sheep, including malic acid and 17% free fatty acids. And they were enriched in riboflavin metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, and histidine metabolism pathways. The results show that sex affects rumen metabolism and the RFI trait. Given differential metabolite function studies, male sheep may rely on greater concentrations of malic acid and B vitamins to participate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle and achieve higher energy utilization efficiency. These findings provide insights into the differences in rumen metabolites linked to the RFI trait and sex differences in sheep.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06182-8MetabolomicsRumen metabolismResidual feed intakeSexTan sheep |
| spellingShingle | ChengLei Song Dongqian He Zhuo Yang Yu Fu Hao Zheng Zhou Xing Wenjuan Shen An Shi Jinzhong Tao Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake Scientific Reports Metabolomics Rumen metabolism Residual feed intake Sex Tan sheep |
| title | Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake |
| title_full | Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake |
| title_fullStr | Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake |
| title_short | Metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in Tan sheep reveals sex-specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake |
| title_sort | metabolomic analysis of rumen fluid in tan sheep reveals sex specific key metabolites and pathways associated with residual feed intake |
| topic | Metabolomics Rumen metabolism Residual feed intake Sex Tan sheep |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06182-8 |
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