Colonization and development of the gut microbiome in calves

Colonization and development of the gut microbiome are crucial for the growth and health of calves. In this review, we summarized the colonization, beneficial nutrition, immune function of gut microbiota, function of the gut barrier, and the evolution of core microbiota in the gut of calves of different ages. Homeostasis of gut microbiome is beneficial for nutritional and immune system development of calves. Disruption of the gut microbiome leads to digestive diseases in calves, such as diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. Microbiota already exists in the gut of calf fetuses, and the colonization of microbiota continues to change dynamically under the influence of various factors, which include probiotics, diet, age, and genotype. Colonization depends on the interaction between the gut microbiota and the immune system of calves. The abundance and diversity of these commensal microbiota stabilize and play a critical role in the health of calves.

Automated summary

Colonization and development of the gut microbiome are essential for the growth and health of calves. This review summarized the colonization, beneficial nutrition, immune function, gut barrier function, and evolution of core microbiota in the gut of calves of different ages. Homeostasis of the gut microbiome is beneficial for the nutritional and immune system development of calves. Disruption of the gut microbiome leads to digestive diseases in calves, such as diarrhea and intestinal inflammation. Colonization of microbiota in the gut of calves is influenced by various factors, including probiotics, diet, age, and genotype. The interaction between gut microbiota and the immune system of calves is crucial for colonization. The abundance and diversity of commensal microbiota play a critical role in the health of calves.