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Revisiting starch degradability in dairy ruminants: from feed processing to gut microbiota and metabolic regulation
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Qingyan Yin1, 2, Shengru Wu2, 3, Xinjian Lei2, Jun Zhang2, 3, Dangdang Wang2, Xinwei Li1, *, Junhu Yao2, 3, *
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology | 2026, 17(4) : 1802 - 1819
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Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology | 2026, 17(4): 1802-1819
INVITED REVIEW PAPER
Revisiting starch degradability in dairy ruminants: from feed processing to gut microbiota and metabolic regulation
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Qingyan Yin1, 2, Shengru Wu2, 3, Xinjian Lei2, Jun Zhang2, 3, Dangdang Wang2, Xinwei Li1, *, Junhu Yao2, 3, *
Affiliations
  • 1State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P. R. China
  • 2College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China
  • 3National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy, Hohhot 010100, P. R. China
Published: 2026-08-15 doi: 10.1186/s40104-026-01365-3
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Starch serves as the primary energy source for high-producing dairy ruminants, which include both dairy cows and dairy goats. Optimizing starch digestion is crucial for ensuring high milk production and maintaining animal health. This narrative review summarizes and discusses recent findings concerning the degradability of starch in these species. Dietary starch is classified into three distinct types based on the basis of its degradation characteristics: rumen degradable starch (RDS), which ferments in the rumen; rumen escape starch (RES), which is subsequently digested in the small intestine; and resistant starch (RS), which resists complete digestion and enters the large intestine. This review systematically links feed processing methods, which directly influence starch structure, to their subsequent effects on the gut microbiota composition and host metabolic regulation. Three key insights emerge from this synthesis of literature. First, processing techniques such as steam-flaking critically alter the ratio among the three starch types, thereby shifting the effective site of digestion. Second, the optimal application of RDS differs significantly between dairy cows and dairy goats, primarily because these species exhibit distinct digestive physiologies. Nutritionists must carefully account for these species-specific differences to effectively prevent metabolic disorders. Third, the primary site of starch digestion significantly reshaped the gut microbiota profile. While a proper balance supports beneficial bacteria, excessive RS reduces energy efficiency, whereas an overload of RDS can readily lead to severe rumen acidosis. Therefore, balancing the proportions of RDS, RES, and RS is vital for helping animals effectively manage the elevated energy demands experienced during peak lactation. Future research must focus on developing precise starch management strategies tailored to the specific needs of various ruminant species.

Degradation sites  /  Energy efficiency  /  Feed processing  /  Ruminants  /  Starch
Qingyan Yin, Shengru Wu, Xinjian Lei, Jun Zhang, Dangdang Wang, Xinwei Li, Junhu Yao. Revisiting starch degradability in dairy ruminants: from feed processing to gut microbiota and metabolic regulation[J]. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 2026 , 17 (4) : 1802 -1819 . DOI: 10.1186/s40104-026-01365-3
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China(3250190797)
  • National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy(2024-KFKT-011)
  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation General(2025M783041)
  • General Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province(2025JH-ZRKX-0639)
Year 2026 volume 17 Issue 4
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Article Info
doi: 10.1186/s40104-026-01365-3
  • Receive Date:2025-10-20
  • Online Date:2026-08-13
  • Published:2026-08-15
Article Data
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History
  • Received:2025-10-20
  • Accepted:2026-01-22
Funding
National Natural Science Foundation of China(3250190797)
National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy(2024-KFKT-011)
China Postdoctoral Science Foundation General(2025M783041)
General Project of the Natural Science Foundation of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province(2025JH-ZRKX-0639)
Affiliations
    1State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Research of the Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, and College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130062, P. R. China
    2College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P. R. China
    3National Center of Technology Innovation for Dairy, Hohhot 010100, P. R. China

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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数

Family
属数
Number of
genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of
total species (%)

Genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of total
species (%)
鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae 2 11 5.26 鹅膏菌属 Amanita 10 4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae 2 12 5.74 丝盖伞属 Inocybe 5 2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae 8 14 6.70 蜡蘑属 Laccaria 5 2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae 3 23 11.00 小皮伞属 Marasmius 6 2.87
小菇属 Mycena 11 5.26
光柄菇属 Pluteus 5 2.39
红菇属 Russula 17 8.13
栓菌属 Trametes 5 2.39
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