Plant saponins modulate intramuscular fatty‑acid profiles in growing lambs via divergent shifts in the rumen microbiome and fermentation metabolism
This study demonstrates that plant-derived saponins from alfalfa, astragalus, and licorice exert source-specific effects on growing lambs by differentially modulating rumen microbiota and fermentation to distinctively alter intramuscular fatty acid profiles and meat color without impacting overall growth performance.