Analysis of the developing gut microbiota in young dairy calves—impact of colostrum microbiota and gut disturbances

Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterize the colostrum and fecal microbiota in calves and to investigate whether fecal microbiota composition was related to colostrum microbiota or factors associated with calf health. Colostrum samples were collected in buckets after hand milking of 76 calving cows from 38 smallholder dairy farms. Fecal samples were taken directly from the rectum of 76 calves at birth and at 14 days age. The bacterial community structure in colostrum and feces was analyzed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism for all samples, and the microbial composition was determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for a subset of the samples (8 colostrum, 40 fecal samples). There was a significant difference in fecal microbiota composition between day 0 and day 14 samples, but no associations between the microbiota and average daily gain, birth weight, or transfer of passive immunity. At 14 days of age, Faecalibacterium and Butyricicoccus were prevalent in higher relative abundances in the gut of healthy calves compared to calves with diarrhea that had been treated with antimicrobials. Colostrum showed great variation in composition of microbiota but no association to fecal microbiota. This study provides the first insights into the composition of colostrum and fecal microbiota of young dairy calves in southern Vietnam and can form the basis for future more detailed studies.

Prevalence of Worldwide Neonatal Calf Diarrhoea Caused by Bovine Rotavirus in Combination with Bovine Coronavirus, Escherichia coli K99 and Cryptosporidium spp.: A Meta-Analysis

“…One of the influencing factors that was also not considered in the study presented here is the role of the gut microbiome during pathogenesis at the site of infection in the early life of an animal, and the host-microbial interactions with dietary interventions. A number of studies have analysed the effect of the microbiome composition on new-born health such as on the calf gastrointestinal tract [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 ]. A limitation of our meta-analysis is that the reported prevalences in the studies were not corrected for the varying levels of sensitivity and specificity of the diagnostic tests used (also referred to as apparent prevalence).…”

Analysis of Cow-Calf Microbiome Transfer Routes and Microbiome Diversity in the Newborn Holstein Dairy Calf Hindgut

“…Pseudomonas has been consistently reported to be the dominant microbe in colostrum ( 42 ) and raw milk ( 43 ). Li et al ( 44 ) concluded that Pseudomonas, Lactococcus , and Acinetobacter were the most common genera, and Hang et al ( 45 ) found that Streptococcus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter , and Corynebacterium were the dominant microbiota. Although those studies differed from our results, it is possible that differences in experimental approaches and even environment account for most of the discrepancies.…”

“…Although those studies differed from our results, it is possible that differences in experimental approaches and even environment account for most of the discrepancies. For example, Hang et al ( 45 ) squeezed colostrum samples into a non-sterile bucket and collected them directly from the bucket after mixing. Clearly, use of a non-sterile container likely would have contaminated the samples.…”

A live yeast supplementation to gestating ewes improves bioactive molecules composition in colostrum with no impact on its bacterial composition and beneficially affects immune status of the offspring

“…In one study, Enhydrobacter was found to be predominant in cow colostrum 20 while facultative anaerobic bacteria such as Streptococcus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, and Corynebacterium were observed in another work on the same animal species 74 . The presence of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in colostrum may participate to early gut colonization 75 .…”