# Rectal Microbiome Reveals the Improved Effect of Dietary Selenium Levels on Lactation Performance and Milk Fatty Acid Profiles in Lactating Donkeys

## TL;DR

Adding 0.3 mg of selenium per kg of donkey feed improves milk production and quality by boosting beneficial gut bacteria and fatty acid profiles.

## Contribution

This study identifies 0.3 mg Se/kg DM as the optimal dose for improving lactation and milk quality in donkeys through gut microbiome modulation.

## Key findings

- 0.3 mg Se/kg DM increased milk yield, digestibility, and beneficial fatty acids in donkey milk.
- 0.3 mg Se/kg DM promoted growth of beneficial gut bacteria like Christensenellaceae R-7 group.
- Higher Se doses (0.5 mg/kg) showed no lactation benefits and potential inhibitory effects.

## Abstract

Donkey milk is a highly nutritious food with recognized health benefits; however, its production is limited due to the low daily milk yield of donkeys. In this study, we investigated whether dietary supplementation with different doses of selenium (Se) could improve both the quantity and quality of milk in lactating donkeys. We found that the addition of 0.3 mg Se/kg DM significantly increased milk production and improved nutritional quality by elevating the content of beneficial fatty acids. This dosage also promoted the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and improved nutrient digestibility. In contrast, higher Se doses did not improve milk yield and may potentially suppress it, with an increase in the polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acid (P/S) ratio and a reduction in the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices. These findings provide practical guidance for the safe use of Se in donkey feeding strategies, facilitating more sustainable dairy production and yielding healthier milk for consumers.

This study evaluated the effects of dietary selenium (Se) supplementation on lactation performance, milk fatty acid composition, and rectal microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in lactating Dezhou donkeys to determine the optimal dose. Twenty-four lactating Dezhou donkeys (estimated milk yield: 3.60 ± 0.84 kg/d; days in milk: 39.93 ± 7.02 d; body weight: 247.24 ± 26.27 kg; parity: 2.82 ± 0.48) were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6): CON (0 mg Se/kg DM), Se1 (0.15 mg Se/kg DM), Se2 (0.3 mg Se/kg DM), and Se3 (0.5 mg Se/kg DM), and were supplemented with Se yeast in the basal diet. The results showed that plasma Se concentrations increased dose-dependently. The Se2 group significantly increased milk yield, milk component yield, milk protein production efficiency, milk production efficiency, the digestibility of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber, protein biological value, and nitrogen metabolic rate, as well as the proportions of C18:1c9, C18:2c6, unsaturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids, the ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (P/S), desirable fatty acids, and (C18:0 + C18:1)/C16:0 in donkey milk, while decreasing the proportion of saturated fatty acids, atherogenicity index, and thrombogenic index. The Se2 group also increased acetate and butyrate in rectal feces, and promoted the growth of beneficial bacteria, including Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Lachnospiraceae XPB1014, and norank_f_Erysipelotrichaceae. In summary, the effects of Se supplementation were dose-dependent: 0.3 mg Se/kg DM improved milk performance and optimized milk fatty acid profiles by improving nutrient digestion and metabolism and modulating rectal bacteria structure, whereas 0.5 mg Se/kg DM showed no lactation benefits (with potential inhibitory effects) despite improving the P/S ratio and reducing the atherogenicity and thrombogenic indices.