Silage-induced modulation of rumen microbiota: a review of species-specific impacts on productivity and health

Abstract Owing to its nutrient preservation and unique biochemical transformations, silage—as a key component of ruminant diets—plays a significant role in shaping rumen microbial communities and fermentation. It also has great value in enhancing productivity, health, and sustainable agricultural development. This review elucidates the roles of different silage types in modulating the rumen microbiota, optimizing feed utilization, and maintaining health performance. It extends the focus to how silage quality regulates rumen microbiota-host interactions, specifically leading to metabolic disorders and immune suppression. Meanwhile, it reveals the pathological cascade by which inferior silage disrupts microecology, thereby inducing species-specific health risks. Furthermore, in response to existing research gaps in mechanistic elucidation and species-specific adaptation strategies, this review advocates for a paradigm shift from phenomenological observation to the investigation of species-specific application mechanisms. By proposing the integration of multi-omics technologies, comparative biology, and the development of combined functional additives, it offers novel perspectives and approaches for decoding the “green efficiency enhancement” potential of silage. This framework provides a scientific blueprint and actionable pathways toward achieving a sustainable ruminant livestock industry characterized by high productivity and efficiency, low carbon emissions, and controlled disease incidence.