China Dairy ›› 2026, Vol. 0 ›› Issue (7): 10-18.doi: 10.12377/1671-4393.26.07.02

• PLANT EXTRACTS AND HEALTHY FARMING • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Regulatory Effects of Plant Extracts on Rumen Microecology in Dairy Cows

XUE Chunsheng, MA Yanfen*   

  1. College of Animal Science and Technology,Ningxia University,Yinchuan Ningxia 750021
  • Published:2026-08-19

Abstract: With the advancement of antibiotic reduction and replacement,green farming,and low-carbon production in the dairy industry,plant extracts have attracted increasing attention as natural functional feed additives in healthy dairy cow production. Plant extracts are rich in bioactive compounds,including essential oils,flavonoids,polyphenols,tannins,saponins,and alkaloids,which can regulate rumen microbial communities and fermentation patterns,thereby affecting nutrient utilization,productive performance,and methane emissions in dairy cows. This review summarized the research basis of plant extracts in regulating rumen function in dairy cows,with emphasis on their effects on methanogenic archaea,protozoa,fiber-degrading bacteria,substrate-utilizing bacterial groups,and microbial interaction networks. Furthermore,the roles of plant extracts in methane formation,hydrogen flow partitioning,volatile fatty acid production,and overall rumen fermentation efficiency are discussed. This review provided technical support for the scientific application of plant extracts in green and healthy dairy cow production and low-carbon dairy development.

Key words: plant extracts, dairy cows, rumen microecology, rumen fermentation, volatile fatty acids, methane mitigation

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