Enhancing milk quality and modulating rectal microbiota of dairy goats in starch-rich diet: the role of bile acid supplementation

Abstract Background Diets rich in starch have been shown to increase a risk of reducing milk fat content in dairy goats. While bile acids (BAs) have been used as a lipid emulsifier in monogastric and aquatic animals, their effect on ruminants is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of BAs supplementation on various aspects of dairy goat physiology, including milk composition, rumen fermentation, gut microbiota, and BA metabolism. Results We randomly divided eighteen healthy primiparity lactating dairy goats (days in milk = 100 ± 6 d) into two groups and supplemented them with 0 or 4 g/d of BAs undergoing 5 weeks of feeding on a starch-rich diet. The results showed that BAs supplementation positively influenced milk yield and improved the quality of fatty acids in goat milk. BAs supplementation led to a reduction in saturated fatty acids (C16:0) and an increase in monounsaturated fatty acids (cis-9 C18:1), resulting in a healthier milk fatty acid profile. We observed a significant increase in plasma total bile acid concentration while the proportion of rumen short-chain fatty acids was not affected. Furthermore, BAs supplementation induced significant changes in the composition of the gut microbiota, favoring the enrichment of specific bacterial groups and altering the balance of microbial populations. Correlation analysis revealed associations between specific bacterial groups (Bacillus and Christensenellaceae R-7 group) and BA types, suggesting a role for the gut microbiota in BA metabolism. Functional prediction analysis revealed notable changes in pathways associated with lipid metabolism, suggesting that BAs supplementation has the potential to modulate lipid-related processes. Conclusion These findings highlight the potential benefits of BAs supplementation in enhancing milk production, improving milk quality, and influencing metabolic pathways in dairy goats. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and explore the broader implications of these findings.