16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of dairy cows following Astragalus polysaccharides supplementation

Dairy cows commonly experience metabolic stress during the postpartum period, which is associated with the gut dysbiosis and disruptions in host-microbiota co-metabolism. Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), a widely used class of polysaccharides, have been applied to alleviate metabolic disorders through modulating gut microbiota. However, gut microbiota is a symbiotic ecosystem, yet the regulatory effects of APS on gut microbial interaction and the related host co-metabolism in dairy cows remain unclear, particularly in relation to bile acids.