Animal Bioscience

Asian Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (아세아태평양축산학회)
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Plant extracts to enhancing intestinal barrier function in fattening lambs: review

  • Xiaoyu Niu (Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University) ;
  • Jing Yang (Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University) ;
  • Yuanyuan Xing (Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University) ;
  • Dabiao Li (Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University)
  • Received : 2025.07.09
  • Accepted : 2025.10.10
  • Published : 2026.06.01
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Abstract

The intestine is not only the primary site for nutrient digestion and absorption but also a key defensive organ in animals. An intact intestinal barrier prevents the translocation of antigens, toxins, and pathogens, ensuring animal health. High-concentrate fattening is a common strategy in lamb farming to achieve maximum production performance and economic benefits. However, consuming high-concentrate diets for an extended period of time can damage the intestines of lambs. Plant extracts, characterized by their immunoregulatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties, have emerged as potential agents for improving intestinal health. This review comprehensively analyzes the impacts of high-concentrate diets on lamb gut health and systematically summarizes the roles of plant extracts in enhancing intestinal barrier function, and briefly discusses their possible mechanisms of action, aiming to offer scientific support for the rational utilization of plant extracts in the lambs industry.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Major Science and Technology Special Project of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Project NO. 2021ZD0024-4); National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project NO. 32360842).

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