Alpha-ketoglutarate (α-KG) is a naturally occurring organic compound that is an important intermediate in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and plays a key role in energy metabolism and amino acid synthesis in living organisms. In the animal field, α-ketoglutaric acid has been widely studied and applied for its various biological functions, and its application in the animal field will be described in detail below.

　　1. Nutritional supplements

　　Alpha-ketoglutaric acid can be used as a nutritional supplement to improve growth performance and health in animals. Studies have shown that adding a moderate amount of alpha-ketoglutaric acid to feed can promote protein synthesis, improve meat quality, enhance immune system function, and thus improve the overall health of animals.

　　2. Stress relief

　　Under stress, an animal's metabolism changes, resulting in insufficient energy supply. Alpha-ketoglutaric acid can participate in the energy metabolism process, improve the efficiency of energy supply, reduce stress response, and help animals restore physiological balance more quickly.

　　3. Promotes muscle growth

　　Alpha-ketoglutaric acid promotes protein synthesis by activating the mTOR signaling pathway, which in turn accelerates muscle growth. This is important for increasing the growth rate of animals and meat production.

　　4. Improve your gut health

　　Alpha-ketoglutaric acid can also improve the digestion and absorption capacity of animals by improving the gut microbial environment. It can promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibit the reproduction of harmful bacteria, so as to maintain the balance of intestinal microecology and reduce the occurrence of digestive tract diseases.

　　5. Antioxidant effect

　　Alpha-ketoglutaric acid has certain antioxidant capacity, which can clear free radicals in the body, reduce oxidative stress, and protect cells from damage. This has positive implications for the prevention and treatment of various diseases caused by oxidative stress.

　　6. Promote wound healing

　　After animal injury, alpha-ketoglutaric acid can promote blood circulation to the wound site, speed up the tissue repair process, and shorten the healing time. This is very important to improve the survival rate and recovery rate of the animals.

　　7. Drug carrier

　　Alpha-ketoglutaric acid can also be used as a drug carrier to improve the absorption and utilization efficiency of certain drugs in animals. By binding to specific drug molecules, alpha-ketoglutaric acid can help the drug reach the target tissue or organ more efficiently, improving the effectiveness of treatment.

　　As a multifunctional compound, alpha-ketoglutaric acid has shown broad application prospects in animal nutrition, health management and disease treatment. Through scientific research and technological innovation, the application of alpha-ketoglutaric acid in the animal field will be more extensive, contributing to improving animal welfare and promoting the sustainable development of animal husbandry.