Effects of mineral-vitamin supplementation on growth performance, serum parameters, fecal microbiota and SCFAs in growing male Ashan wapiti (Cervus canadensis sibiricus)

Abstract • Background • Commercial feeding systems for farmed wapiti ( Cervus canadensis sibiricus ) generally adopt cattle‑based mineral‑vitamin formulas, which fail to satisfy the species‑specific nutritional requirements of wapiti. This study aimed to investigated the effects of 2% mineral-vitamin supplementation on growth performance, serum parameters, fecal microbiota, and short‑chain fatty acids (SCFAs) profiles in one-year-old male wapiti (n = 6/group) over 45 days. • Results • The supplementation significantly increased final body weight by 3.38% ( P < 0.05), and elevated serum GH, IGF-1, immunoglobulin (IgA, IgG, IgM), T-AOC, and ALB levels ( P < 0.05). The dietary intervention reshaped the fecal microbiota community structure, and increasing the relative abundance of unclassified_Bifidobacteriaceae , Turicibacter , Romboutsia , and Oscillospiraceae UCG-005 . Consequently, fecal butyrate concentration increased dramatically by 658.94% (2,227.00 µ g/mL), with its proportion elevated by 140.09% ( P < 0.05). Spearman analysis demonstrated that these enriched keystone taxa were positively associated with butyrate accumulation and serum parameters, indicating a coordinated microbiota‑butyrate‑immunity‑growth regulatory pattern in growing wapiti. • Conclusions • Dietary mineral‑vitamin supplementation effectively improves the growth and physiological health of growing male wapiti, which is potentially mediated by integrated modulation of gut microbiota and butyrate metabolism. This study provides a feasible nutritional strategy for developing species‑specific feed formulas and supports the sustainable feeding of farmed wapiti.