gut microbiome in Dezhou donkeys
Average daily gain (ADG) is a key production trait in donkeys; however, substantial variations in ADG occur even under identical nutritional and management conditions. The Gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a critical regulator of host metabolism and growth. Sixteen male Dezhou donkeys were raised from birth to 18.5 months and classified into slow-growing (SG, n=8) and fast-growing (FG, n=8) groups based on ADG. Fecal microbiome analysis were conducted to reveals the growth rate differences in Dezhou donkeys.