Novel Feed Additives and Nutritional Strategies to Optimize Rumen and Gastrointestinal Health, Production Efficiency, Animal Welfare and Environmental Sustainability in Ruminants

Ruminant production faces the dual challenge of improving productivity while reducing its environmental footprint and safeguarding animal health and welfare. High-roughage feeding systems often contribute to elevated enteric methane emissions (representing up to ~12% loss of dietary gross energy) and a higher carbon footprint per unit of product. Conversely, high-concentrate diets can induce metabolic stress, predisposing animals to subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), gut barrier impairment, and systemic inflammation. These challenges affect both small (sheep and goats) and large ruminants (cattle and buffaloes), though physiological responses vary considerably across species, production systems, and basal diets. Novel feed additives and targeted nutritional strategies—particularly those utilizing bioactive compounds (probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and phytobiotics), alternative feedstuffs, and precision feeding—offer viable avenues to address these trade-offs without relying on antimicrobial growth promoters.This Research Topic aims to advance mechanistic and applied knowledge of innovative nutritional interventions designed to enhance ruminal fermentation efficiency, gastrointestinal integrity and homeostasis, nutrient utilization, and environmental sustainability across ruminant species. Particular emphasis is placed on natural bioactives and functional supplements as sustainable alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters.We welcome Original Research, Reviews, Systematic Reviews, Mini-Reviews, and Methodological papers. Studies linking mechanistic laboratory findings with practical animal performance through complementary in vitro, in situ, and in vivo approaches are especially encouraged.Themes of interest include, but are not limited to:- Mechanisms of action of functional feed additives (probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, phytobiotics, and essential oils) in supporting digestive and ruminal health- Enteric methane mitigation and dietary strategies to lower the carbon footprint and reduce environmental impact of ruminant production- Dietary modulation of the ruminal and lower-gut microbiome, archaeome, and metabolome in relation to productivity and sustainability- Nutritional interventions tailored to high-roughage and high-concentrate feeding systems to prevent metabolic disorders (e.g., SARA) and safeguard animal health and welfare- Natural feed components and functional additives as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters, supporting sustainable and welfare-conscious production- Impacts of novel interventions on gut epithelial barrier integrity, mucosal immunity, systemic health, and animal welfare outcomes- Effects on ruminal fermentation kinetics, nutrient digestibility, and overall animal performance, with implications for production efficiency and resource sustainability- Advanced in vitro, in situ, and in vivo experimental models, including multi-omics approaches, for feed additive evaluation and validationA healthy digestive ecosystem drives positive animal outcomes from the inside out. By optimizing ruminal fermentation dynamics and nutrient bioavailability, modern ruminant nutrition is shifting toward sustainable interventions that actively support the gastrointestinal microbiome. Ultimately, these targeted nutritional approaches hold the potential to simultaneously enhance production efficiency, safeguard animal health and welfare, and reduce the environmental footprint of livestock systems. Topic editors: Muhammad Shazaib Ramay, Elaine Magnani Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86049/novel-feed-additives-and-nutritional-strategies-to-optimize-rumen-and-gastrointestinal-health-production-efficiency-animal-welfare-and-environmental-sustainability-in-ruminants