Tibetan herbal medicine improved the health status of calves by regulating the antioxidant ability, inflammatory reaction and microbiota of female Yaks

This study evaluated the effects of traditional Chinese herbal medicine compounds (TCHMCs) on gut microbiota, maternal health, and calf performance in perinatal yaks. Thirty-two yaks with expected calving dates (two months pre-calving to one month post-calving) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8). Groups WA, WB, and WC received normal diets supplemented with different TCHMC formulations, while group WD served as the control. High-throughput sequencing revealed that TCHMC supplementation significantly increased gut microbial diversity and altered community composition. Compared with controls, supplemented yaks exhibited higher abundances of Bacteroidetes and enrichment of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing genera, including Phascolarctobacterium, Butyricicoccus, Bulleidia, and Blautia. Potentially beneficial taxa with anti-inflammatory properties, such as Adlercreutzia, Akkermansia, Odoribacter, Dehalobacterium, and Sporosarcina, were also enriched. Calves born to treated yaks demonstrated significantly greater birth weights, reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and improved antioxidant capacity, as indicated by increased T-AOC and SOD activity. Among the three formulations, TCHMCⅡ (WB) exerted the most pronounced effects, enhancing microbial shifts, maternal physiological resilience, and neonatal health outcomes. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with TCHMCs during the perinatal period modulated gut microbiota, reduced maternal inflammation, strengthened antioxidant defenses, and improved calf growth performance. These findings provide new evidence supporting the use of TCHMCs as practical nutritional interventions to improve reproductive performance and offspring vitality in yak husbandry under high-altitude conditions.