We predicted that the microbial functions and the relative abundance of the genes involved in carbohydrate metabolism were overrepresented in the intestinal segments of Qinghai semi-fine wool sheep. The bacterial communities and functions differed among different intestinal segments. Our study is the first to provide insights into the composition and biological functions of the intestinal microbiota of Qinghai semi-fine wool sheep. Our results also provide useful information for the nutritional regulation and production development in Qinghai semi-fine wool sheep.The bacterial communities and functions differed among different intestinal segments. Our study is the first to provide insights into the composition and biological functions of the intestinal microbiota of Qinghai semi-fine wool sheep. Our results also provide useful information for the nutritional regulation and production development in Qinghai semi-fine wool sheep. The objectives of the present study were to determine digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), and standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in meat meal (MM) and to compare these values with those in fish meal (FM), and soybean meal (SBM) fed to pigs. Two experiments were conducted to determine energy concentrations and STTD of P in MM, FM, and SBM fed to growing pigs. In Exp. 1, DE and ME in the 3 test ingredients were measured using 24 barrows with initial body weight (BW) of 77.7 ± 8.3 kg. A corn-based diet and 3 diets containing corn and 22 to 30% of each test ingredient were prepared. In Exp. 2, the STTD of P in the 3 test ingredients was measured using 24 barrows (90.9 ± 6.6 kg BW). Three diets were formulated to contain each test ingredient as the sole source of P. In Exp. 1, the DE and ME values in MM [3,310 and 2,856 kcal/kg dry matter (DM)] were less (p<0.05) than those in FM (4,121 and 3,572 kcal/kg DM) and SBM (4,390 and 4,032 kcal/kg DM). In Exp. 2, FM (64.3%) had greater (p<0.05) STTD of P than SBM (44.8%) with MM (55.8%) having intermediate STTD of P. Meat meal contains less energy concentrations compared with fish meal and soybean meal, and digestibility of phosphorus in meat meal does not differ from that in fish meal and soybean meal.Meat meal contains less energy concentrations compared with fish meal and soybean meal, and digestibility of phosphorus in meat meal does not differ from that in fish meal and soybean meal. FKBP5 has been shown to play an important role in metabolically active tissues such as skeletal muscle. However, the expression of FKBP5 in Muscovy duck tissues and its association with body weight are still unclear. In this study, qRT-PCR was used to detect the expression of FKBP5 in different tissues of Muscovy duck at different growth stages. Further, SNPs were detected in the exon region of FKBP5 and were combined analyzed with the body weight of 334 Muscovy ducks. FKBP5 was highly expressed in various tissues of Muscovy duck at days 17, 19, 21, 24 and 27 of embryonic development. In addition, the expression of FKBP5 in the tissues of female adult Muscovy ducks was higher than that of male Muscovy ducks. Besides, an association analysis indicated that 3 SNPs were related to body weight trait. At the g.4819252 A>G, the body weight of AG genotype was significantly higher than that of the AA and the GG genotype. At the g.4821390 G>A, the genotype GA was extremely significantly related to body weight. At the g.4830622 T>G, the body weight of TT was significantly higher than GG and TG. These findings indicate the possible effects of expression levels in various tissues and the SNPs of FKBP5 on Muscovy duck body weight trait. FKBP5 could be used as molecular marker for muscle development trait using early marker-assisted selection (MAS) of Muscovy ducks.These findings indicate the possible effects of expression levels in various tissues and the SNPs of FKBP5 on Muscovy duck body weight trait. FKBP5 could be used as molecular marker for muscle development trait using early marker-assisted selection (MAS) of Muscovy ducks. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing herbal active ingredients (YGF251) which can promote the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the diet on production performance, egg quality, blood hematology, and excreta gas emission in laying hens. A total of 288 ISA Brown (41-week-old) laying hens with an initial body weight of 1.83 ± 0.68 kg were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 dietary treatments in a randomized block design based on body weight. D-Arabino-2-deoxyhexose Each treatment had 12 replicate cages having 6 adjacent cages per replicate (hens are kept in cages alone). The experimental period was 35 days. Dietary treatments were based on the corn-soybean meal-wheat-based basal diet and supplemented with 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, or 0.15 % YGF251. There was a linear increased egg weight in weeks 1 to 5 (P < 0.05), egg mass in week 1 (P < 0.05) and weeks 1 to 5 (P < 0.05), egg strength on day 7 (P < 0.05), 21 (P < 0.01), and 35 (P < 0.01), eggshell thickness on day 21 (P < 0.05) and 35 (P < 0.01), haugh unit on day 21 (P < 0.01) and 35 (P < 0.05), serum IGF-1 concentration on day 21 (P < 0.05) and 35 (P < 0.01), and serum total protein concentration on day 35 (P < 0.05) were observed with the supplementing YGF251 increased in the diet, while feed conversion ratio in weeks 1 to 5 (P < 0.05) and excreta ammonia emission (P < 0.01) decreased linearly with the dose of YGF251 increased. Dietary supplementation of YGF251 positively affected the production performance and egg quality of laying hens through increasing serum IGF-1 concentration in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, YGF251 supplementation improved barn environment by reducing excreta noxious gas emission.Dietary supplementation of YGF251 positively affected the production performance and egg quality of laying hens through increasing serum IGF-1 concentration in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, YGF251 supplementation improved barn environment by reducing excreta noxious gas emission.