Effect of fumarate and live yeast on methane emissions, rumen fermentation, blood metabolites, and lactation performance in dairy goats

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects and combined effects of fumarate (32 g/d) and active dry yeast (ADY) (1.5 g/d) on methane emissions, rumen fermentation, microbial community and function, apparent total tract digestibility, blood metabolites, and lactation performance in 28 lactating goats using a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. Fumarate supplementation inhibited methane emission rates for 3 h post-feeding, while ADY increased the methane emission rates for 2 h pre-feeding, without combined effects between them. Fumarate increased the rumen pH and reduced total VFA concentration without changing the VFA profiles before feeding. Based on two custom dataset of 4,674 metagenome-assembled genomes and 7,758,615 nonredundant genes, neither fumarate nor live yeast influenced the rumen microbial community and function. The addition of fumarate reduced the concentrations of glucose, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), and ammonia in the serum, as well as the activity of insulin, while increasing the activity of serum malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and the levels of urea in both serum and milk. The addition of live yeast reduced serum glucose levels and increased serum MDA concentrations and MUN levels. There was a negative interaction between fumaric acid and live yeast on the levels of urea nitrogen in serum and milk. ConclusionsThe methane inhibition effect of fumaric acid persists for 3 h post-feeding, reflecting its retention or metabolism time in the rumen. Fumaric acid enhances the TCA cycle and the urea cycle in dairy goats, thereby improving energy utilization efficiency and reducing the risk of ammonia toxicity.