High-dose phytosterols supplementation improves lactation performance, modulates rumen microbiota, and reduces methane emission intensity in mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows
Dong Li, Yinyin Kyawt, Qi Wang, Jian Gao, Rong Wang, Min Wang, Chen Duan, Donghai Lv, Weiyun Zhu, Metha Wanapat, Yanfen Cheng · 2026
Read High-dose phytosterols supplementation improves lactation performance, modulates rumen microbiota, and reduces methane emission intensity in mid-lactation Holstein dairy cows by Dong Li, Yinyin Kyawt, Qi Wang, Jian Gao, Rong Wang, Min Wang, Chen Duan, Donghai Lv, Weiyun Zhu, Metha Wanapat, Yanfen Cheng (2026) in the Tower of Babel, a free online library of public-domain works preserved in clean, searchable text. No sign-up. The full text is served as a plain-text file at a predictable URL, where text is present: https://antarctic-labs.com/tower-of-babel/pmc-13392637.txt.
Description
Li and co-authors present a 2026 feeding trial asking whether plant sterols, called phytosterols, can raise milk output while cutting methane intensity in dairy cows. Thirty-four mid-lactation Holstein cows were split into a control group and a group fed 15 grams per day of a phytosterol product over 50 days. The team tracked milk yield and composition, nutrient digestibility, blood chemistry, rumen fermentation, gas emissions, and the microbes living in the rumen.
Cows on phytosterols produced more milk with higher fat and protein percentages, and their energy-corrected milk also rose, all without eating more feed. Digestibility of organic matter, protein, fiber, and fat also improved. Blood glucose increased while total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol fell. Rumen microbe communities shifted as well, and methane emitted per unit of milk dropped, a gain for farm profit and climate goals alike.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Dong Li, Yinyin Kyawt, Qi Wang, Jian Gao, Rong Wang, Min Wang, Chen Duan, Donghai Lv, Weiyun Zhu, Metha Wanapat, Yanfen Cheng |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 65 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |