stems and leaves affect microbial community and function in cecum of duzang pigs.

is a Chinese medicine with a long history in which stems and leaves are the wastes of processing and have not been effectively utilized. The effects of diets containing stems and leaves on the cecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentration and microbiome of independent pigs were studied. Diets containing stems and leaves did not affect the concentration of SCFA in the cecal contents of Duzang pigs but affected the microbial composition and diversity. Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes dominate in the cecal of Duzang pigs. Feeding Duzang pigs with a 10% stems and leaves diet increases the abundance of , , and in the cecal. We found 14 genera positively associated with acetate, and they were , , and showed negative correlations. , , and were positively associated with propionate. , , and were positively associated with butyrate. In conclusion, stems and leaves could affect the cecal microbial community and functional composition of Duzang pigs. stems and leaves reduce the enrichment of lipopolysaccharide biosynthetic pathway of the cecal microbiome, which may have a positive effect on intestinal health. The higher abundance of GH25 family in Duzang pig's cecal microbiome of fed stems and leaves diet. This increase may be the reason for the microbial diversity decrease.