# Multi-Omics Analysis Reveals That Alkaline Mineral Complex Reshapes Rumen Mucosal Microbiota and Metabolites and Enhances Rumen Epithelial Barrier Function in Fattening Cattle

## TL;DR

Adding an alkaline mineral complex to cattle feed improves rumen health by changing microbes and boosting anti-inflammatory substances.

## Contribution

The study identifies how an alkaline mineral complex reshapes rumen microbiota and metabolites to enhance epithelial barrier function.

## Key findings

- AMC supplementation reduced Bacteroidota and Prevotella while enriching Sarcina sp. DSM11001 and Fibrobacter spp.
- AMC increased anti-inflammatory metabolites like sulfinpyrazone and 4-guanidinobutyric acid.
- AMC improved rumen epithelial integrity and reduced systemic inflammation in cattle.

## Abstract

Feeding beef cattle high-concentrate diets boosts growth but can harm their rumen health, leading to inflammation. This study tested whether adding an alkaline mineral complex (AMC) to their feed could protect them. We found that AMC worked by positively changing the balance of microbes in the rumen. These changes increased the production of natural anti-inflammatory substances and strengthened the rumen lining. As a result, cattle fed AMC showed fewer signs of body-wide inflammation and better overall health. Our research provides a scientific basis for using this nutritional supplement to keep cattle healthier during intensive fattening, which is important for both animal welfare and sustainable farming.

High-concentrate diets are widely used to enhance growth performance in fattening beef cattle; however, they often compromise rumen epithelial integrity, increasing the risk of rumenitis and systemic inflammation. Supplementation with alkaline mineral complex (AMC) has been shown to alleviate these adverse effects, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, AMC supplementation was associated with improved rumen epithelial integrity and remodeling of the rumen microbiota, characterized by a reduction in Bacteroidota and Prevotella, and an enrichment of Sarcina sp. DSM11001 and Fibrobacter spp., with the latter identified as a key microbial biomarker in the AMC group. Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses revealed activation of the tryptophan metabolism pathway and accumulation of several anti-inflammatory metabolites, including sulfinpyrazone, Thr-Leu, and 4-guanidinobutyric acid. These metabolomic changes were correlated with the upregulation of tight junction pathways and increased expression of related proteins, which in turn were associated with enhanced epithelial barrier integrity and reduced systemic inflammation in the AMC group. Collectively, these findings suggest that AMC supplementation may protect rumen epithelial integrity by modulating the microbial community and altering ruminal metabolite profiles. This study provides insights into nutritional strategies to prevent epithelial damage under high-concentrate feeding conditions and support the potential use of AMC to maintain rumen health in fattening cattle.