{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T11:24:35Z","timestamp":1779103475676,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"10","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1779062400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100018525","name":"Key Research and Development Program of Sichuan Province","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2023YFN0075"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023YFN0075"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100018525","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Sichuan Rabbit Innovation Team of National Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System of China","award":["SCCXTD-2024-26-5"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["SCCXTD-2024-26-5"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Ophiopogon japonicus (O. japonicus) by-products contain abundant nutrients and bioactive substances. In this study, we evaluated their effects on production performance and intestinal health in meat rabbits. Firstly, we measured the nutrient levels of O. japonicus by-products along with its digestibility in meat rabbits. Then, we replaced dietary alfalfa meal with O. japonicus by-products to evaluate its effects on growth performance, carcass traits, apparent digestibility, and intestinal immunity in meat rabbits. The results showed that the effects of O. japonicus by-products on growing meat rabbits varied over time. In the early phase (days 1\u201321), it significantly depressed average daily gain (ADG, p &lt; 0.001) and average daily feed intake (ADFI, p &lt; 0.001), and increased feed to gain ratio (F:G) (p &lt; 0.001). However, in the later phase (days 22\u201335), a compensatory response emerged, with significantly increased ADG (p &lt; 0.001) and reduced ADFI (p &lt; 0.01) and F:G (p &lt; 0.001). Despite this compensatory growth, the growth performance and feed efficiency for the entire experimental period were not improved. O. japonicus by-products decreased carcass weight significantly (p &lt; 0.001), but did not significantly affect dressing percentage and meat traits (p &gt; 0.05), while it significantly reduced the digestibility of crude protein (CP, p &lt; 0.05), increased that of crude fiber (CF, p &lt; 0.001), and reduced the activities of amylase (p &lt; 0.01) and increased trypsin in cecal contents (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, O. japonicus by-products elevated the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in ileal mucosa (p &lt; 0.05). They did not significantly affect the cecal microbial community or short chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels (p &gt; 0.05). Our research indicated that O. japonicus by-products possess a balanced nutritional composition and improve intestinal immunity in rabbit production, making them a viable feed ingredient to partially replace alfalfa meal.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16101538","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T10:25:16Z","timestamp":1779099916000},"page":"1538","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Effects of Ophiopogon japonicus By-Products as a Replacement for Alfalfa Meal on Production Performance and Intestinal Health in Meat Rabbits"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-0432-063X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aipeng","family":"Mao","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yanbin","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Junning","family":"Pu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Xiaohong","family":"Guo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Shufen","family":"Xue","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jing","family":"Fu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jingyi","family":"Cai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gang","family":"Jia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gang","family":"Tian","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Animal Disease-resistant Nutrition of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"893074","DOI":"10.1155\/2015\/893074","article-title":"Nutritional Composition, \u03b1-Glucosidase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activities of Ophiopogon Japonicus Tubers","volume":"2015","author":"Wang","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Chem."},{"key":"ref_2","first-page":"3226","article-title":"Analysis and Evaluation of Nutrient Composition of Ophiopogonis Radix in Santai Area","volume":"44","author":"Jin","year":"2019","journal-title":"China J. Chin. Mater. Medica"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"193","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jep.2016.01.037","article-title":"Ophiopogon Japonicus\u2014A Phytochemical, Ethnomedicinal and Pharmacological Review","volume":"181","author":"Chen","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Ethnopharmacol."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"154718","DOI":"10.1016\/j.phymed.2023.154718","article-title":"Ophiopogon Japonicus and Its Active Compounds: A Review of Potential Anticancer Effects and Underlying Mechanisms","volume":"113","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Phytomedicine"},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission (2015). Pharmacopoeia of the People\u2019s Republic of China, China Medical Science Press. [10th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"876","DOI":"10.1080\/10286020903093161","article-title":"Two New Homoisoflavonoids from the Fibrous Roots of Ophiopogon Japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl","volume":"11","author":"Duan","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6689","DOI":"10.1039\/C8RA09319A","article-title":"Enrichment and Separation of Steroidal Saponins from the Fibrous Roots of Ophiopogon Japonicus Using Macroporous Adsorption Resins","volume":"9","author":"Zhou","year":"2019","journal-title":"RSC Adv."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"187","DOI":"10.1248\/cpb.c14-00735","article-title":"Steroidal Sapogenins and Glycosides from the Fibrous Roots of Ophiopogon Japonicus and Liriope Spicata Var. Prolifera with Anti-Inflammatory Activity","volume":"63","author":"Qi","year":"2015","journal-title":"Chem. Pharm. Bull."},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"1201","article-title":"Analysis of Soluble Sugars in Ophiopohon Japonicus Tuberous Roots and Fibrous Roots by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry","volume":"59","author":"Liang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chin. Pharm. J."},{"key":"ref_10","first-page":"1467","article-title":"Comparison on the Content of Main Componentin Ophiopogon is japonicus","volume":"17","author":"Wu","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Li-Shizhen Tradit. Chin."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"83","article-title":"Determination of Polysaccharides and Flavonoids in Ophiopogon japonicus and Its Fibrous Root","volume":"23","author":"Ma","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Southwest Univ. Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"1002","article-title":"Comparison on histology of root tubers and fibrous roots of Ophiopogon japonicus and ophiopogonins content","volume":"45","author":"Jin","year":"2014","journal-title":"Chin. Tradit. Herb. Drugs"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7214607","DOI":"10.1155\/2016\/7214607","article-title":"Determination of Saponin Content in Hang Maidong and Chuan Maidong via HPLC-ELSD Analysis","volume":"2016","author":"Li","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Anal. Methods Chem."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"215","article-title":"Comparison of Main Compositions in Tuberous and Fibrous Roots of Ophiopogon japonicus","volume":"24","author":"Wu","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Trop. Subtrop. Bot."},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"112","article-title":"Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis and Determination of Multi-Component Content of Different Parts of Ophiopogon japonicus","volume":"46","author":"Li","year":"2025","journal-title":"Feed. Ind."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"139","DOI":"10.1016\/S1094-9194(02)00024-5","article-title":"Rabbit Gastrointestinal Physiology","volume":"6","author":"Davies","year":"2003","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. N. Am. Exot. Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.1016\/S0301-6226(97)00111-5","article-title":"Caeco-Colic Digestion in the Growing Rabbit: Impact of Nutritional Factors and Related Disturbances","volume":"51","author":"Gidenne","year":"1997","journal-title":"Livest. Prod. Sci."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"351","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvex.2005.01.007","article-title":"Rabbit Gastroenterology","volume":"8","author":"Reusch","year":"2005","journal-title":"Vet. Clin. N. Am. Exot. Anim. Pract."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102","DOI":"10.1016\/j.anifeedsci.2011.12.016","article-title":"Nutritional Digestive Disturbances in Weaner Rabbits","volume":"173","author":"Chamorro","year":"2012","journal-title":"Anim. Feed Sci. Technol."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Van Der Sluis, M., Van Zeeland, Y.R.A., and De Greef, K.H. (2024). Digestive Problems in Rabbit Production: Moving in the Wrong Direction? Front. Vet. Sci., 11.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2024.1354651"},{"key":"ref_21","unstructured":"Peng, Y. (2023). Preparation of Polysaccharides from Fibrous Roots of Ophiopogon japonicus and Its Preventive Effect on Stressed Gastric Ulcer. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Sichuan Agricultural University]."},{"key":"ref_22","unstructured":"Kuang, Y. (2023). Study on Structure Analysis of Polysaccharide from Ophiopogon japonicus Fibrous Root and Its Preventive and Therapeutic Effect on Ulcerative Colitis in Mice. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Sichuan Agricultural University]."},{"key":"ref_23","unstructured":"Dong, P. (2025). Optimization of Processing Technology of Baleen Root of Ophiopogon and Its Effects on Growth and Slaughter Performance, Serum Biochemistry and Intestinal Health of White Feather Broilers. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Mianyang Teachers\u2019 College]."},{"key":"ref_24","unstructured":"Jiang, Q. (2023). Optimization of Extraction Process of Polysaccharides from Shenmai fibrous Root and Its Prevention and Treatment of Diarrhea in Weaned Rabbits. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Sichuan Agricultural University]."},{"key":"ref_25","unstructured":"(2014). Determination of Moisture in Feedstuffs (Standard No. GB\/T 6435\u20132014)."},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"(2018). Determination of Crude Protein in Feeds-Kjeldahl Method (Standard No. GB\/T 6432\u20132018)."},{"key":"ref_27","unstructured":"(2006). Determination of Crude Fat in Feeds (Standard No. GB\/T 6433\u20132006)."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"(2023). Determination of Total Starch Content in Feeds-Enzymatic Method (Standard No. GB\/T 42491-2023)."},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"(2022). Determination of Crude Fiber Content in Feeds (Standard No. GB\/T 6434\u20132022)."},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"(2022). Determination of Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) in Feeds (Standard No. GB\/T 20806\u20132022)."},{"key":"ref_31","unstructured":"(2006). Determination of Acid Detergent Lignin in Feedstuffs (Standard No. GB\/T 20805\u20132006)."},{"key":"ref_32","unstructured":"(2018). Determination of Calcium in Feeds (Standard No. GB\/T 6436-2018)."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"(2018). Determination of Phosphorus in Feeds\u2014Spectrophotometry (Standard No. GB\/T 6437-2018)."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"(2022). Determination of Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) in Feeds (Standard No. NY\/T 1459\u20132022)."},{"key":"ref_35","unstructured":"AOAC International (2023). Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International, AOAC International. [22nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"de Blas, C., and Wiseman, J. (2020). Nutrition of the Rabbit, CABI Publishing. [3rd ed.].","DOI":"10.1079\/9781789241273.0000"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100044","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eas.2024.100044","article-title":"Unraveling the Promise of Agroindustrial Byproducts as Alternative Feed Source for Sustainable Rabbit Meat Production","volume":"10","author":"Karuppusamy","year":"2024","journal-title":"Emerg. Anim. Species"},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"413","article-title":"Effects of Nutrition on Haematology of Rabbits: A Review","volume":"10","author":"Etim","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur. Sci. J."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"541","DOI":"10.1080\/10408398.2013.792772","article-title":"Impact of Diet Composition on Blood Glucose Regulation","volume":"56","author":"Russell","year":"2016","journal-title":"Crit. Rev. Food Sci. Nutr."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"505","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijbiomac.2015.09.069","article-title":"Cardiovascular Protective Effect of Polysaccharide from Ophiopogon Japonicus in Diabetic Rats","volume":"82","author":"Zhang","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Biol. Macromol."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yang, T., Chen, B., Fang, J., Li, Z., Liu, Y., and Lin, A. (2025). Effects of Ophiopogon Japonicus Oligosaccharides on Type 2 Diabetes in Rats via Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Metabolites. Front. Pharmacol., 16.","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2025.1710883"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"603","DOI":"10.1038\/mi.2011.41","article-title":"Secretory IgA\u2019s Complex Roles in Immunity and Mucosal Homeostasis in the Gut","volume":"4","author":"Mantis","year":"2011","journal-title":"Mucosal Immunol."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Corth\u00e9sy, B. (2013). Multi-Faceted Functions of Secretory IgA at Mucosal Surfaces. Front. Immunol., 4.","DOI":"10.3389\/fimmu.2013.00185"},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"eabc8433","DOI":"10.1126\/science.abc8433","article-title":"Structure-Based Decoupling of the pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Functions of Interleukin-10","volume":"371","author":"Saxton","year":"2021","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Acuner-Ozbabacan, E.S., Engin, B.H., Guven-Maiorov, E., Kuzu, G., Muratcioglu, S., Baspinar, A., Chen, Z., Van Waes, C., Gursoy, A., and Keskin, O. (2014). The Structural Network of Interleukin-10 and Its Implications in Inflammation and Cancer. BMC Genom., 15.","DOI":"10.1186\/1471-2164-15-S4-S2"}],"container-title":["Animals"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/10\/1538\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]],"date-time":"2026-05-18T10:46:18Z","timestamp":1779101178000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2076-2615\/16\/10\/1538"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"10","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5]]}},"alternative-id":["ani16101538"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ani16101538","relation":{},"ISSN":["2076-2615"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2076-2615","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,18]]}}}