Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41975427›Full record

ArticleBMC veterinary research2026

Effects of synthetic breast milk on the gut metagenome and whole blood transcriptome in lambs.

Zhenliang Zhang, Jiachen Bai, Yucheng Liu, Jingjing Wang, Zhanming Lv, Ling Tang, Ruigang Wang, Lei Gao, Changbin Liu, Shouliang Lu and 3 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC veterinary research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Zhenliang Zhang *State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Jiachen Bai *National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China.
Yucheng LiuState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Jingjing WangState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Zhanming LvState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Ling TangState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Ruigang WangState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Lei GaoState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Changbin LiuState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Shouliang LuState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Xiangwei FuState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China.
Jianhong NiState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China. xjshznjh@163.com.
Pengcheng WanState Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences,, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, 832000, China. wanpenchen@126.com.

Funding

Agricultural GG Project of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps NYHXGG.2023AA206-3China Agriculture Research System CARS-39-07Project of Major Science and Technology Project of the Corps 2025AA01504Tacheng Talents Project 2025AB5012Xinjiang Agriculture Research System XJARS-09-26Young Science and Technology Top Talent Program of Tianshan Talent Training Program in Xinjiang Province 2022TSYCCX0124
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Early postnatal nutrition is crucial for the growth and development of lambs, and artificial milk formulas are widely used as alternatives to breast milk in intensive sheep production. However, the molecular and microbial mechanisms underlying the differences between breast milk and formula feeding remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the fecal metagenomic and whole blood transcriptomic profiles of lambs fed breast milk (BF group) and commercial formula (FF group) from 4 to 45 days of age, to provide a theoretical basis for optimizing formula compositions. A total of 6 lambs were randomly divided into two groups (n = 3 per group), with body weight and body dimensions measured at 45 days of age, followed by fecal metagenomic sequencing and whole blood transcriptomic sequencing. The results showed that BF lambs had significantly higher body weight, body length, heart girth, and chest width than FF lambs. Metagenomic analysis revealed that at the phylum level, Bacteroidetes was enriched in FF lambs, whereas Firmicutes predominated in BF lambs. Differential abundance was also observed at the genus level (higher Desulfovibrio in FF lambs) and the pathway level, with BF lambs enriched in quorum sensing and FF lambs showing higher abundances of pathways related to ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis identified 3290 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two groups, with DEGs mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, mTOR signaling pathway, osteoclast differentiation, B cell receptor signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Collectively, compared with FF, BF enhanced lamb growth, optimized gut microbiome structure and modulated blood transcriptomic profiles related to metabolism, signaling and immunity. These findings highlight the key microbial taxa and functional pathways modulated by breastfeeding, providing valuable insights for the development of more effective milk formula alternatives.

Indexed as

Gastrointestinal MicrobiomeMetagenomeMilkMilk SubstitutesTranscriptomeAnimal FeedAnimalsFecesFemaleSheepBlood transcriptomeBreastfeedingFecal metagenomeFormula feedingLamb

Identifiers

PMID41975427
PMCPMC13200360

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.