# Topics and Trends in Most Cited Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology Papers, Class of 2026

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/ruminant-nutrition-and-digestive-physiology/2026*

## What topics and trends defined most-cited Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology research in the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 in ruminant nutrition shifts from basic taxonomic profiling to functional, systems-level analysis. High-impact research increasingly relies on multi-omics and metabolomics to link specific rumen microbes, like Prevotella, to environmental goals such as methane mitigation and enhanced feed efficiency.

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Field | Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology |
| Cohort label | Class of 2026 (2024 publications) |
| Papers analyzed | 4,240 |
| Papers ranked | 20 |
| Top topics in ranked papers | Holstein cattle, Prevotella, methane mitigation, metabolomics |
| Publication window | Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024 |
| Eligibility | Research articles; reviews excluded |
| Citation window | 18 months post-publication |
| 18m citation range | 19–48 |
| Data source | OpenAlex · Retrieved July 2026 |
| License | CC BY 4.0 |

## Rankings

| Rank | Title | Authors | Corresponding authors | Affiliation | Journal | 18m citations | DOI |
| ---: | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---: | --- |
| 1 | Single-cell transcriptomics across 2,534 microbial species reveals functional heterogeneity in the rumen microbiome | Minghui Jia, Senlin Zhu, Ming-Yuan Xue, Hongyi Chen, Jinghong Xu, Mengdi Song, Yifan Tang, Xiaohan Liu, Ye Tao, Tianyu Zhang, Jian-Xin Liu, Yongcheng Wang, Hui-Zeng Sun | Yongcheng Wang, Hui‐Zeng Sun | Zhejiang University, China | Nature Microbiology | 48 | 10.1038/s41564-024-01723-9 |
| 2 | Integrated multi-omics reveals the relationship between growth performance, rumen microbes and metabolic status of Hu sheep with different residual feed intakes | Yanzhen Zhang, Xiaowei Zhang, Dingren Cao, Jinyong Yang, Huiling Mao, Lingling Sun, Chong Wang | Lingling Sun, Chong Wang | Zhejiang A&F University, China | Animal nutrition | 39 | 10.1016/j.aninu.2024.04.021 |
| 3 | Long-term effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol on methane emission and milk production characteristics in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows | Sanne van Gastelen, Eline E A Burgers, Jan Dijkstra, Rudi de Mol, Wouter Muizelaar, Nicola Walker, André Bannink | Sanne van Gastelen | Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands | Journal of Dairy Science | 37 | 10.3168/jds.2023-24198 |
| 4 | Volatile metabolomics and metagenomics reveal the effects of lactic acid bacteria on alfalfa silage quality, microbial communities, and volatile organic compounds | Yichao Liu, Shuai Du, Lin Sun, Yuyu Li, Mingjian Liu, Pengbo Sun, Baochao Bai, Gentu Ge, Yushan Jia, Zhijun Wang | Yushan Jia, Zhijun Wang | Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China | Communications Biology | 34 | 10.1038/s42003-024-07083-8 |
| 5 | Phenotypic variation of dairy cows’ hematic metabolites and feasibility of non-invasive monitoring of the metabolic status in the transition period | Silvia Magro, Angela Costa, Damiano Cavallini, Elena Chiarin, Massimo De Marchi | Angela Costa | University of Padova, Italy | Frontiers in Veterinary Science | 28 | 10.3389/fvets.2024.1437352 |
| 6 | An integrated microbiome- and metabolome-genome-wide association study reveals the role of heritable ruminal microbial carbohydrate metabolism in lactation performance in Holstein dairy cows | Chenguang Zhang, Huifeng Liu, Xingwei Jiang, Zhihong Zhang, Xinfeng Hou, Yue Wang, Dangdang Wang, Zongjun Li, Yangchun Cao, Shengru Wu, Sharon A Huws, Junhu Yao | Shengru Wu, Sharon Huws, Junhu Yao | Northwest A&F University, China | Microbiome | 27 | 10.1186/s40168-024-01937-3 |
| 7 | Growth performance, carcass characteristics, fatty acid profile, and meat quality of male goat kids supplemented by alternative feed resources: bitter vetch and sorghum grains | Soumaya Boukrouh, Ali Noutfia, Nassim Moula, Claire Avril, Julien Louvieaux, Jean-Luc Hornick, Jean-François Cabaraux, Mouad Chentouf | Soumaya Boukrouh, Ali Noutfia, Nassim Moula, Claire Avril, Julien Louvieaux, Jean‐Luc Hornick, Jean-François Cabaraux, Mouad Chentouf | University of Liège, Belgium | Archives animal breeding/Archiv für Tierzucht | 24 | 10.5194/aab-67-481-2024 |
| 8 | Feed additives for methane mitigation: Modeling the impact of feed additives on enteric methane emission of ruminants—Approaches and recommendations | Jan Dijkstra, André Bannink, Guilhermo F S Congio, Jennifer L Ellis, Maguy Eugène, Florencia Garcia, Mutian Niu, Ronaldo E Vibart, David R Yáñez-Ruiz, Ermias Kebreab | Jan Dijkstra | Wageningen University & Research, Netherlands | Journal of Dairy Science | 24 | 10.3168/jds.2024-25049 |
| 9 | Rumen and hindgut microbiome regulate average daily gain of preweaning Holstein heifer calves in different ways | Sheng-Yang Xu, Xiao-Ran Feng, Wei Zhao, Yan-Liang Bi, Qi-Yu Diao, Yan Tu | Tu Yan | Institute of Feed Research, China | Microbiome | 23 | 10.1186/s40168-024-01844-7 |
| 10 | Feed additives for methane mitigation: Assessment of feed additives as a strategy to mitigate enteric methane from ruminants—Accounting; How to quantify the mitigating potential of using antimethanogenic feed additives | Agustin Del Prado, Ronaldo E Vibart, Franco M Bilotto, Claudia Faverin, Florencia Garcia, Fábio L Henrique, Fernanda Figueiredo Granja Dorilêo Leite, Andre M Mazzetto, Bradley G Ridoutt, David R Yáñez-Ruiz, André Bannink | A. del Prado, Ronaldo Vibart | Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Spain | Journal of Dairy Science | 23 | 10.3168/jds.2024-25044 |
| 11 | Multi-omics analysis reveals the core microbiome and biomarker for nutrition degradation in alfalfa silage fermentation | Yuan Wang, Yunlei Sun, KeXin Huang, Yu Gao, Yufan Lin, Baojie Yuan, Xin Wang, Gang Xu, Luiz Gustavo Nussio, Fuyu Yang, Kuikui Ni | Yuan Wang | China Agricultural University, China | mSystems | 22 | 10.1128/msystems.00682-24 |
| 12 | Succession of rumen microbiota and metabolites across different reproductive periods in different sheep breeds and their impact on the growth and development of offspring lambs | Yuzhu Sha, Xiu Liu, Xiongxiong Li, Zhengwen Wang, Pengyang Shao, Ting Jiao, Yanyu He, Shengguo Zhao | Shengguo Zhao | Gansu Agricultural University, China | Microbiome | 21 | 10.1186/s40168-024-01892-z |
| 13 | Deciphering functional groups of rumen microbiome and their underlying potentially causal relationships in shaping host traits | Ming-Yuan Xue, Yun-Yi Xie, Xin-Wei Zang, Yi-Fan Zhong, Xiao-Jiao Ma, Hui-Zeng Sun, Jian-Xin Liu | Hui‐Zeng Sun, Jianxin Liu | Zhejiang University, China | iMeta | 21 | 10.1002/imt2.225 |
| 14 | Mitigating methane emissions in grazing beef cattle with a seaweed-based feed additive: Implications for climate-smart agriculture | Paulo Meo-Filho, John F Ramirez-Agudelo, Ermias Kebreab | E. Kebreab | University of California, United States | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences | 21 | 10.1073/pnas.2410863121 |
| 15 | Fermentation profile and bioactive component retention in honeysuckle residue silages inoculated with lactic acid bacteria: A promising feed additive for sustainable agriculture | Yanfang Wu, Yi Xiao, Charles Obinwanne Okoye, Lu Gao, Xunfeng Chen, Yongli Wang, Jianxiong Jiang | Jianxiong Jiang | Jiangsu University, China | Industrial Crops and Products | 21 | 10.1016/j.indcrop.2024.120315 |
| 16 | Integrating genome‐ and transcriptome‐wide association studies to uncover the host–microbiome interactions in bovine rumen methanogenesis | Wei Wang, Zhenyu Wei, Zhuohui Li, Jianrong Ren, Yanliang Song, Jingyi Xu, Anguo Liu, Xinmei Li, Manman Li, Huimei Fan, Liangliang Jin, Zhannur Niyazbekova, Wen Wang, Yuanpeng Gao, Yu Jiang, Junhu Yao, Fuyong Li, Shengru Wu, Yu Wang | Fuyong Li, Shengru Wu, Yu Wang | Northwest A&F University, China | iMeta | 20 | 10.1002/imt2.234 |
| 17 | A metagenomic catalogue of the ruminant gut archaeome | Jiandui Mi, Xiaoping Jing, Chouxian Ma, Fuyu Shi, Ze Cao, Xin Yang, Yiwen Yang, Apurva Kakade, Weiwei Wang, Ruijun Long | Jiandui Mi | Lanzhou University, China | Nature Communications | 20 | 10.1038/s41467-024-54025-3 |
| 18 | Seasonal stability of the rumen microbiome contributes to the adaptation patterns to extreme environmental conditions in grazing yak and cattle | Wei Guo, Mi Zhou, Fuyong Li, André Luis Alves Neves, Tao Ma, Sisi Bi, Weiwei Wang, Ruijun Long, Le Luo Guan | Ruijun Long, Le Luo Guan | Guizhou University, China | BMC Biology | 20 | 10.1186/s12915-024-02035-4 |
| 19 | Multi-omics reveal mechanisms of high enteral starch diet mediated colonic dysbiosis via microbiome-host interactions in young ruminant | Chunjia Jin, Shengru Wu, Ziqi Liang, Jun Zhang, Xinjian Lei, Hanxun Bai, Gaofeng Liang, Xiaodong Su, Xiaodong Chen, Peiyue Wang, Yue Wang, Leluo Guan, Junhu Yao | Leluo Guan | Northwest A&F University, China | Microbiome | 19 | 10.1186/s40168-024-01760-w |
| 20 | Effects of a range of effective inclusion levels of Asparagopsis armata steeped in oil on enteric methane emissions of dairy cows | P.S. Alvarez-Hess, J. L. Jacobs, Robert D. Kinley, Breanna M. Roque, Aodán S. ó Neachtain, Subhash Chandra, V. Russo, S.R.O. Williams | J. L. Jacobs | Agriculture Victoria Research, Australia | Animal Feed Science and Technology | 19 | 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2024.115932 |

## Topic trends

### What Topics Define the Class of 2026?

The Class of 2026 for ruminant nutrition and digestive physiology is defined by an intensified focus on precision interventions and advanced analytical techniques. While Holstein cattle remains the primary model system driving a significant portion of the literature, there is a pronounced emphasis on specific microbial players and environmental impact. Concepts such as 'Prevotella' and 'methane mitigation' have emerged as leading subjects of investigation. This signals a definitive shift from merely characterizing broad microbial communities to targeting specific keystone taxa and elucidating their functional roles in greenhouse gas emissions.

Methodologically, the field is advancing beyond single-assay approaches. 'Metabolomics' and 'multi-omics' have become central to the most highly cited studies, reflecting a strong push toward systems-level understanding of rumen function. Researchers are increasingly linking these comprehensive omics profiles to practical agricultural outcomes like 'feed efficiency', 'methane yield', and 'milk yield'. Furthermore, studies exploring 'silage fermentation' remain critical, underscoring the foundational role of feed quality in shaping the rumen microbiome and determining overall animal performance.

*Leading research themes*

### How Did Topics Shift from the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026?

Comparing the Class of 2025 to the Class of 2026 reveals a distinct transition in both analytical resolution and targeted interventions within ruminant nutrition. The most striking increases are observed in high-resolution analytical approaches. 'Multi-omics' and 'blood metabolomics' surged to prominence, demonstrating a profound expansion in methodological sophistication. This aligns with a relative decline in foundational '16S rRNA gene sequencing', suggesting the field has moved past basic taxonomic cataloging toward functional and systemic metabolic profiling.

Concurrently, there is a sharp rise in research focusing on specific microbial modulators and taxa, such as 'Lactiplantibacillus plantarum', 'Butyrivibrio', and 'Prevotella'. This indicates a growing interest in targeted probiotic applications and microbial interventions rather than relying solely on broad dietary shifts. Research into 'greenhouse gas mitigation' also saw significant growth, further emphasizing the environmental imperative driving current ruminant research. Conversely, classical fermentation parameters like 'acetate-to-propionate ratio' experienced relative declines, not because they are unimportant, but because the vanguard of the field is increasingly exploring the underlying molecular and microbial mechanisms that govern these outcomes.

*How topics shifted year over year*

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/ruminant-nutrition-and-digestive-physiology/2026. Accessed 2026-07-21.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```