Sijunzi San Alleviates the Negative Energy Balance in Postpartum Dairy Cows by Regulating Rumen Fermentation Capacity

At a large-scale intensive dairy farm in Ningxia, China, 16 robust postpartum Holstein cows, each weighing 600±30 kg with body condition scores ranging from 3.0 to 3.5 and having 2 to 3 lactations, were randomly assigned to either a control group (CONT) or a Sijunzi San group (SJZS), with equal representation in each group. Both groups were fed the same total mixed ration (TMR) and had ad libitum access to water. The dosage of 300 g per day was determined based on the medication guidelines recommended by the Chinese Veterinary Pharmacopoeia. In the SJZS group, cows were administered 300 g of Sijunzi San mixed with 5 L of water via a gastric tube before their morning feeding, for a period of 7 days. In contrast, cows in the CONT group received an equivalent volume of plain drinking water. In contrast, the cows in the control group were provided with an equivalent volume of plain drinking water. Prior to morning feeding on the eighth day, blood samples were collected from the tail vein of each cow. Plasma was then prepared through centrifugation at 3,000 rpm for 20 minutes at 4℃ and stored at -80℃ for subsequent analysis of biochemical indices and the blood metabolome.

在中国宁夏一大型集约化奶牛场，选取了16头体重在600±30公斤、体况评分介于3.0至3.5之间、拥有2至3次产奶经历的健壮荷斯坦奶牛，随机分为对照组（CONT）和四君子散组（SJZS），两组数量均等。两组奶牛均饲喂相同的全混合日粮（TMR），并自由饮用温水。剂量为每日300克，依据《中国兽药典》推荐用药指南确定。在SJZS组中，奶牛在早餐前通过胃管给予300克四君子散与5升水的混合液，持续7天。相对而言，对照组奶牛则摄入等体积的普通饮用水。在第八天早餐前，从每头奶牛的尾静脉采集血液样本。随后，通过4℃、3000 rpm的离心条件离心20分钟制备血浆，并将血浆储存于-80℃条件下，以备后续生化指标和血液代谢组的分析。