Jing Ge, Yanjiao Li, Xianghui Zhao, Kehui Ouyang, Mingren Qu, Qinghua Qiu
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary D-ribose supplementation on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation characteristics, and microbial LuxS/autoinducer-2 (AI-2) quorum sensing in Hu sheep. METHODS: Eighteen female Hu sheep, aged 3 months with similar body weights (20.47±0.58 kg), were randomly divided into two groups of nine animals each. The control group was fed a basal diet (CON), while the experimental group received the basal diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg of D-ribose (DR). After 80 days of individual pen feeding, blood, rumen fluid, and fecal samples were collected for analysis. RESULTS: The results showed that the average daily gain was higher in the DR group than in the CON group, and the feed-to-gain ratio was lower in the DR group (p<0.05). The apparent digestibility of ether extract tended to be higher in the DR group (p = 0.068). In comparison to the CON group, the levels of serum cortisol, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species were lower in the DR group, while superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels were higher, resulting in a decreased oxidative stress index (p<0.05). The rumen pH and microbial protein concentration were higher in the DR group (p<0.05), and no differences in ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids concentrations were observed between the CON and DR groups (p>0.10). The rumen microbial density was higher in the DR group, while the concentrations of AI-2 signaling molecule, biofilm formation, and exopolysaccharides were lower (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that dietary supplementation with D-ribose can enhance the growth performance, improve serum antioxidant capacity, and inhibit rumen microbial LuxS/AI-2 quorum sensing in Hu sheep.