Dr. Cao Yangchun
1. Personal information
Cao Yangchun, Professor, Doctoral Supervisor. “National High-Level Talents Special Support Program” of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. In the past five years, as the first/corresponding author, more than 30 SCI papers have been published in international mainstream journals in the field such as Gastroenterology, iMeta, and Gut Microbes, with the highest impact factor of 33.8. He has been authorized 12 national patents as the first principal investigator, issued 2 group standards and 2 local standards of Shaanxi Province as the first principal investigator, and won 1 First Prize of Science and Technology Progress of Shaanxi Province and 1 Second Prize of Science and Technology Progress of Gansu Province. He has been appointed as a member of the Expert Group of the Nutrition Center at Harvard Medical School, selected as the Third “Young Elite Talent” of the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Zhongying Scholar, Outstanding Youth of Shaanxi Province, and one of the first batch of "Outstanding Young Talents in General Higher Education Institutions" in Shaanxi Province. He also won the Prize of Young Scholars of the Animal Nutrition Branch of the Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. He concurrently serves as a member of the Beef Cattle Nutrition Branch of the National Animal Nutrition Steering Committee, Deputy Secretary-General of the Animal Nutrition Branch of the 11th Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, and Deputy Director of the Ruminant Nutrition Special Committee, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Branch of the Animal Microecology and Biological Feed Professional Committee, Director of the Shaanxi Additive Premix "Four Entities and One Union" Technical Engineering Center, Chief Scientist of the Shaanxi Qin Chuangyuan Livestock and Poultry Feed Additive R&D and Application Team, and a Post Expert of the Shaanxi Dairy Cattle Industry Technology System. He serves as Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of iMetaomics and China Cattle Science, and Young Editorial Board Member of iMeta and Microbiome Research Reports. He has presided over more than 30 projects, including General Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
2. Research Interests
Ruminant nutrition and feed science, gastrointestinal microorganism and efficient utilization of nutrients.
3. Curriculum & Student Cultivation
Prof. Cao Yangchun has long been committed to teaching and scientific research in animal nutrition and feed science. He has undertaken undergraduate full-English courses Topics in Animal Science and Basic Research Methods, as well as graduate full-English courses Research Advances in Animal Nutrition. He has participated in the doctoral full-English course Topics in Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, and undertaken undergraduate courses such as Feed Additive Science and Comprehensive Experiments in Feed Analysis. He has also participated in the China University MOOC online course Animal Nutrition. He won the Production Award of the National College (Life Sciences) Micro-lecture Competition. He has co-edited 7 textbooks and books, including the “13th Five-Year Plan” national planning textbook Livestock Feeding, and 3 English monographs such as Amino Acids in Nutrition and Health. For three consecutive sessions, he has guided students to participate in the National Agricultural and Forestry University “Cattle Elite Challenge” co-sponsored by the National Steering Committee for Professional Degrees in Agriculture and the Agriculture and Forestry Discipline Working Committee of the Chinese Society for Degree and Graduate Education, all of which won the first prize.
4．Research & Achievement
4.1 Principal Investigator:
1) PI, National High-Level Talents Special Support Program. (Funded by Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, ¥1,300,000)
2) PI, Molecular mechanism of Aspergillus niger in the prevention and treatment of Clostridioides difficile diarrhea in calves. (Funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, 500,000)
3) PI, Regulatory mechanism and network of choline on hepatic lipid metabolism in transition dairy cows. (Funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, ¥570,000)
4) PI, Research on the synergetic degradation mechanism and efficacy of xylanase and acetyl esterase from rumen fungi of yaks. (Funded by the National Nature Science Foundation of China, ¥250,000 + 75,000)
5) PI, Research on Dynamic Prediction Model of Carbon Emission from Forage for Cattle and Sheep and Emission Reduction Measures. (Funded by the National Key R&D Program, ¥900,000)
6) PI, Research on Key Pretreatment Technologies for Modified Value-Added Processing of Apple Residue, Potato Residue and Sweet Potato Residue. (Funded by the National Key R&D Program, ¥1,250,000)
7) PI, “Zhongying Young Scholar” Program. (Funded by the Tang Prize Foundation, ¥720,000)
8) PI, Integration and Demonstration of High-Efficiency Farming Technologies for Early Lactation Dairy Animals. (Funded by the National Key R&D Program, ¥300,000)
9) PI，Microorganisms in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Ruminants and Efficient Nutrient Conversion. (Funded by the Tang Prize Foundation, ¥320,000)
10) PI, Shaanxi Provincial Outstanding Youth Science Foundation Project (Ruminant Nutrition). (Funded by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology, ¥500,000)
11) PI, Project of “Four Entities and One Union” Additive Premix Engineering Technology Research Center in Shaanxi Province. (Funded by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology, ¥300,000)
12) PI, Project for the Construction of Qin Chuangyuan Chief “Scientist + Engineer” Team. (
Funded by the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology, ¥300，000)
13) PI, Regulatory Mechanisms and Applications of Intestinal Health and Efficient Carbohydrate Utilization in Dairy Goats. (Funded by the Shaanxi Provincial Key Research and Development Program, ¥400,000)
14) PI, Research on the mechanism of functional amino acids regulate trypsin secretion in ruminants. ((Funded by International cooperation project of the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs)
15) PI, Research and application of improving ruminant performance through diet design and feeding experiment. (Funded by Shaanxi Huaqin Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Technology Co., LTD)
16) PI, Analysis of the mechanism and efficacy of yak rumen fungi degradation of roughage based on genomic technology. (Funded by National Key Lab Cultivating Base of Plateau Grazing Animal Nutrition and Ecology)
17) PI, Synergic effect between malic acid and chitosan oligosaccharide on methane emission in ruminant animals. (Funded by Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China, ¥30,000)
18) PI, The digestive tract retention rate of ruminant specific complex enzyme and its effect on nutrient utilization of whole digestive tract (Funded by Guangdong VTR Bio-Tech Co., LTD)
19) PI, Research and development on energy-saving, green, environment-friendly, and high-efficiency feed and additives (Funded by Collaborative Innovation Major Project in Yangling Demonstration Zone, ¥600,000)
20) PI, Research on the exploitation and efficient utilization of cell wall degrading enzymes from rumen fungi of yaks. (Funded by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, ¥200,000)
21) PI, Synergic effect between malic acid and chitosan oligosaccharide on methane emission in ruminant animals. (Funded by Natural Science Basic Research Plan in Shaanxi Province of China, ¥30,000)
22) PI, Research on effects of peNDF level on rumen health and microflora of dairy animals. ((Funded by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities) 23) PI, The mechanism of extracts from Chinese herbs on methane generation in dairy cows. (Funded by Beijing Key Laboratory of Dairy Cow Nutrition, ¥100,000)
24) PI, Research on the diversity and cell-wall degrading enzymes from rumen fungi of yaks. (Funded by National Key Lab Cultivating Base of Plateau Grazing Animal Nutrition and Ecology, ¥50,000 + 70,000)
25) PI, Demonstrations and applications of physically effective NDF in the diets of dairy cow. (Funded by Northwest A & F University, ¥100,000)
26) PI, Effects of glucose and Calcium sources on intestinal calcium uptake and transport and mammary calcium metabolism in ruminants and its mechanism. (Funded by Northwest A & F University,)
27) PI, Regulation of nutritional metabolism, energy homeostasis and health in response to post-ruminal choline and methionine in transition dairy cows. (Funded by Northwest A & F University, ¥100,000)
4.2 Standards：
1) Cao YC, Yao J, Lei X, Wang L, Cai C, Xu X, Gong Y, Wang J, Yang J, Zhang X, Zhang M. Determination of Rumen-Degradable Starch (RDS) in Total Mixed Rations for Ruminants—Nylon Bag Method (DB61/NO73-2022), Local Standard of Shaanxi Province, released.
2) Cao YC, Yao J, Cai C, Xu X, Gong Y, Lei X, Yang J. Determination of Carbohydrate Balance Index (CBI) in Total Mixed Rations for Ruminants (DB 61/T 1262-2019), Local Standard of Shaanxi Province, released.
3) Cao YC, Yao J, Cai C, Xu X, Gong Y, Wang J, Lei X. Determination of Rumen-Degradable Starch (RDS) in Total Mixed Rations for Ruminants—Nylon Bag Method (T/YLST 2-2019), National Group Standard, released.
4) Cao YC, Yao J, Cai C, Xu X, Gong Y, Lei X, Yang J. Determination of Carbohydrate Balance Index (CBI) in Total Mixed Rations for Ruminants (TB002/YLSL-2018), National Group Standard, released.
4.3 Articles
Journal Papers (representative papers as the first author or corresponding author from 2018 to June 2025)
1) Cao YC,, Wang L, Ke S, Villafuerte Gálvez JA, Pollock NR, Barrett C, Sprague R, Daugherty K, Xu H, Lin Q, Yao J, Chen Y, Kelly CP, Liu YY, Chen X*. Fecal Mycobiota Combined With Host Immune Factors Distinguish Clostridioides difficile Infection From Asymptomatic Carriage. Gastroenterology, 2021, 160(7): 2328-2339.e6. IF=33.883
2) Wang L, Villafuerte Gálvez JA, Lee C, Wu S, Kelly CP, Chen X, Cao YC,*. Understanding host immune responses in Clostridioides difficile infection: Implications for pathogenesis and immunotherapy. iMeta, 2024, 3(3):e200. IF=23.823
3) Wang L, Chen X, Pollock NR, Villafuerte Gálvez JA, Alonso CD, Wang D, Daugherty K, Xu H, Yao J, Chen Y, Kelly CP, Cao YC,*. Metagenomic analysis reveals distinct patterns of gut microbiota features with diversified functions in C. difficile infection (CDI), asymptomatic carriage and non-CDI diarrhea. Gut Microbes, 2025, (1):2505269. IF=10.915
4) Yang, H, Wang, L, Villafuerte Gálvez, J. A, Ma, X, Xu, H, Wu, S, Cao YC,*. Clostridium difficile and gut health: Bacteria, the gut microbiome, and diet. iMetaOmics, 2025，2(1), e50.
5) Wang L, Cao YC*, Lou E, Zhao X, Chen X. The role of gut fungi in Clostridioides difficile infection. Biomedical Journal, 2024, (3):100686.IF=4.100
6) Wang, L, Lee, C, Gálvez, J. A. V, Kelly, C. P, Lin, Q, Yao, J, Cao YC,*. Exploring the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and immunotherapeutic advancements in Clostridium difficile infection. The Innovation Life, 2024, 100107-1.
7) Zhang Y, Li R, Du X, Cui Z, Jiang X, Wang L, Yao J, Liu S, Wang J, Cai C, Cao YC,*. Transcriptome in Liver of Periparturient Dairy Cows Differs between Supplementation of Rumen-Protected Niacin and Rumen-Protected Nicotinamide. Metabolites, 2024, (3):150.IF=3.642
8) Wang D, Tang G, Wang Y, Yu J, Chen L, Chen J, Wu Y, Zhang Y, Cao YC*, Yao J*. Rumen bacterial cluster identification and its influence on rumen metabolites and growth performance of young goats. Animal Nutrition, 2023, 15:34-44. IF=7.420
9) Wang D, Tang G, Zhao L, Wang M, Chen L, Zhao C, Liang Z, Chen J, Cao YC*, Yao J*. Potential roles of the rectum keystone microbiota in modulating the microbial community and growth performance in goat model. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology, 2023, 14(1):55. IF=6.300
10) Du X, Cui Z, Zhang R, Zhao K, Wang L, Yao J, Liu S, Cai C, Cao YC*. The Effects of Rumen-Protected Choline and Rumen-Protected Nicotinamide on Liver Transcriptomics in Periparturient Dairy Cows. Metabolites, 2023, 13(5):594. IF=3.400
11) Wang D, Tang G, Yu J, Li Y, Feng L, Liu H, Li J, Chen L, Cao YC *, Yao J*. Microbial Enterotypes Shape the Divergence in Gut Fermentation, Host Metabolism, and Growth Rate of Young Goats. Microbiology Spectrum, 2023, 11(1): e0481822. IF=3.700
12) Zhao C, Wang L, Ke S, Chen X, Kenéz Á, Xu W, Wang D, Zhang F, Li Y, Cui Z, Qiao Y, Wang J, Sun W, Zhao J, Yao J, Yu Z, Cao YC*. Yak rumen microbiome elevates fiber degradation ability and alters rumen fermentation pattern to increase feed efficiency. Animal Nutrition, 2022, 11:201-214. IF=6.300
13) Liu Z, Li Y, Zhao C, Liu Z, Wang L, Li X, Pellikaan W, Yao J, Cao YC*. Effects of a combination of fibrolytic and amylolytic enzymes on ruminal enzyme activities, bacterial diversity, blood profile and milk production in dairy cows. Animal, 2022, (8):100595. IF=3.600
14) Cao YC*, Wang L, Ke S, Kelly CP, Pollock NR, Villafuerte Gálvez JA, Daugherty K, Xu H, Yao J, Chen Y, Liu YY, Chen X. Analysis of Intestinal Mycobiota of Patients with Clostridioides difficile Infection among a Prospective Inpatient Cohort. Microbiology Spectrum, 2022, 10(4):e0136222. IF=3.700
15) Cao YC, Yao J, Sun X, Liu S, Martin GB. Amino Acids in the Nutrition and Production of Sheep and Goats. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 2021, 1285:63-79. IF=3.650
16) Cao YC, Wang D, Wang L, Wei X, Li X, Cai C, Lei X, Yao J. Physically effective neutral detergent fiber improves chewing activity, rumen fermentation, plasma metabolites, and milk production in lactating dairy cows fed a high-concentrate diet. Journal of Dairy Science, 2021, 104(5):5631-5642. IF=4.225
17) Guo L, Tian H, Yao J, Ren H, Yin Q, Cao YC*. Leucine improves α-amylase secretion through the general secretory signaling pathway in pancreatic acinar cells of dairy calves. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 2020, 318(6):C1284-C1293. IF=4.249
18) Cao YC, Liu S, Liu K, Abbasi IHR, Cai C, Yao J. Molecular mechanisms relating to amino acid regulation of protein synthesis. Nutrition Research Reviews, 2019, 32(2):183-191. IF=7.641
19) Cao YC, Liu K, Liu S, Guo L, Cai C, Yao J. Isoleucine Regulates the Synthesis of Pancreatic Enzymes via the Activation of mRNA Expression and Phosphorylation in the Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signalling Pathways in Pancreatic Tissues. Biomed Research International, 2019, 2019:6302950. IF=2.276
20) Wang D, Zhao C, Liu S, Zhang T, Yao J, Cao YC*. Effects of Piromyces sp. CN6 CGMCC 14449 on fermentation quality, nutrient composition and the in vitro degradation rate of whole crop maize silage. AMB Express, 2019, 9(1):121. IF=2.500
21) Guo L, Yao J, Zheng C, Tian H, Liu Y, Liu S, Cai C, Xu X, Cao YC*. Leucine regulates α-amylase and trypsin synthesis in dairy calf pancreatic tissue in vitro via the mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway. Animal, 2019, 13(9):1899-1906. IF=2.400
22) Abbasi IHR, Abbasi F, Liu L, Bodinga BM, Abdel-Latif MA, Swelum AA, Mohamed MAE*, Cao YC*. Rumen-protected methionine a feed supplement to low dietary protein: effects on microbial population, gases production and fermentation characteristics. AMB Express, 2019, 9(1):93. IF=2.500
23) Guo L, Yao J, Zheng C, Tian H, Liu Y, Liu S, Cai C, Xu X, Cao YC*. Leucine regulates α-amylase and trypsin synthesis in dairy calf pancreatic tissue in vitro via the mammalian target of rapamycin signalling pathway. Animal, 2019, 13(9):1899-1906. IF=2.400
24) Cao YC, Yang X, Guo L, Zheng C, Wang D, Cai C, Liu S, Yao J. Effects of dietary leucine and phenylalanine on pancreas development, enzyme activity, and relative gene expression in milk-fed Holstein dairy calves. Journal of Dairy Science, 2018, 101(5):4235-4244. IF=3.082
25) Cao YC, Yang X, Guo L, Zheng C, Wang D, Yao J*. Regulation of pancreas development and enzymatic gene expression by duodenal infusion of leucine and phenylalanine in dairy goats. Livestock Science, 2018, 216: 9-15. IF=1.376
26) Abbasi IHR, Abbasi F, Wang L, Abd El Hack ME, Swelum AA, Hao R, Yao J*, Cao YC*. Folate promotes S-adenosyl methionine reactions and the microbial methylation cycle and boosts ruminants production and reproduction. AMB Express, 2018, 8(1):65. IF=2.226
27) Abbasi IHR, Abbasi F, Abd El-Hack ME, Swelum AA, Yao J*, Cao YC*. Post-ruminal effects of rumen-protected methionine supplementation with low protein diet using long-term simulation and in vitro digestibility technique. AMB Express, 2018, 8(1):36. IF=2.226
28) Wei X, Cai C, He J, Yao J*, Cao YC*. Effects of biotin and nicotinamide supplementation on glucose and lipid metabolism and milk production of transition dairy cows. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 2018, 237: 106-117. IF=2.590
29) Ma X, Dai Y, Yao J, Cao YC*. Research progress on biological functions of pterostilbene and its application in animal production. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2025, 37(02): 804-811(In Chinese with English abstract).
30) Wang H, Liu Z, Yao J, Cao YC*. Regulatory effects and mechanisms of choline on hepatic glucose metabolism. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2021, 33(04): 1913-1924(In Chinese with English abstract).
31) Li Y, Yu Z, Yao J, Cao YC*. Comprehensive regulatory measures to improve energy supply in early lactation of high-yielding dairy cows. Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition, 2020, 32(03): 1047-1055(In Chinese with English abstract).
4.4. Patents
(1) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Wang J, Zhao C. Application of Candida tropicalis in the prevention and treatment of Clostridium difficile. China, Patent No.: 202310767936.6.
(2) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Wei X, Zhao H, He J, Yin Q, Cai C, Xu X. A method for enhancing antioxidant and immune functions in lambs. China, Patent No.: CN 108719194 B.
(3) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Wang D, Cai C, Xu X, Zhang T, Zhao C, Ren H. A rumen fungus with high plant cell wall degradation activity and its application in feed silage. China, Patent No.: CN 107325974 B.
(4) Cao YC, Yao J, Li Z, Wang L, Cai C, Wang D, Zhao C, Zhang T, Qiao Y, Zheng C, Yin Q. A feed additive for energy redistribution during lactation in dairy goats. China, Patent No.: CN 106359949 B.
(5) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Xu X, Ren H, Wang D, Zhang T, Zhao C, Wei X. A roughage crusher for dairy cows. China, Patent No.: CN 207692447 U.
(6) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Wei X, Cai C, Wang D, Zhang T, Zhao C, Ren H. An intelligent feed screening and feeding device. China, Patent No.: CN 207615165 U.
(7) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Cai C, Wang D, Zhang T, Zhao C, Ren H. A device for removing odors in feed processing. China, Patent No.: CN 207654924 U.
(8) Cai CJ, Yao J, J, Cao Y, Sun F, Li Z, Wei X. An automatic animal feeding monitoring device. China, Patent No.: ZL 2017 2 0152536.4.
(9) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Jiang L, Wang D, Li Z, Sun F, Wei X, Ren H, Yang T, Zheng L. A dairy cow housing. China, Patent No.: ZL 2015 2 0782103.8.
(10) Cao YC, Yao J, Wang L, Xu X, Wang D, Sun F, Wei X. An automatic feed supply device. China, Patent No.: ZL 2015 2 0104236.X.
(11) Cao YC, Yao J, Sun F, Yang H. A novel ruminant feed. China, Patent No.: ZL 2013 1 0232289.5.
4.5. Awarded
1) “National High-Level Talents Special Support Program” (2024, Organization Department of the Central Committee)
2)Shaanxi Provincial Outstanding Youth Science Foundation: Ruminant Nutrition (2023, Provincial-Level, 1/1)
3) “Zhongying Young Scholar” (2022, 1/1)
4) Excellent Instructor of the 5th National Cattle Elite Challenge: National Runner-up/First Prize in Dairy Cow Group (2023, National Society, 1/1)
5) First Prize of Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Progress: Research, Development and Promotion of Key Technologies for Efficient and Environment-Friendly Dairy Cow Breeding (2021, Provincial-Level, 2/9)
6) Second Prize of Gansu Provincial Science and Technology Progress: Research and Application of Nutritional Regulation on Rumen Health and Feed Formulation Technology for Cattle and Sheep (2019, Provincial-Level, 5/10)
7) The 3rd “Young Top-notch Talent” of Chinese Association of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine: Regulatory Mechanism of Efficient Carbohydrate Utilization in Ruminants (2019, Provincial-Level, 1/1)
8) Second Prize of the 2nd Young Scholar Award of Chinese Society of Animal Nutrition: Research on Microbial Mechanism of Rumen and Small Intestine Degradable Starch Distribution Regulating Metabolism in Dairy Goats (2018, National Society, 1/1)
9) The 8th “Jinggang New Talent” of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Association (2025, 1/1)
10) Academic New Talent Award of Annual Academic Symposium of Shaanxi Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine Association: Metabolic Regulation and Healthy Breeding of Dairy Cows during the Periparturient Period (2023, Provincial Society, 1/1)
11) The First Batch of “Young Outstanding Talents in Ordinary Higher Education Institutions” in Shaanxi Province (2017, Provincial-Level, 1/1)
5. Contact information
Address: No. 22, Xinong Road, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, P.R. China
Postcode: 712100
Email: caoyangchun@126.com
(Updated at 2025.06.16)
