Presence of Adult Companion Goats Favors the Rumen Microbial and Functional Development in Artificially Reared Kids.

ABSTRACT: Newborn dairy ruminants are usually separated from their dams after birth and fed on milk replacer. This lack of contact with adult animals may hinder the rumen microbiological and physiological development. This study evaluates the effects of rearing newborn goat kids in contact with adult companions on the rumen development. Thirty-two newborn goat kids were randomly allocated to two experimental groups which were reared either in the absence (CTL) or in the presence of non-lactating adult goats (CMP) and weaned at 7 weeks of age. Blood and rumen samples were taken at 5, 7, and 9 weeks of age to evaluate blood metabolites and rumen microbial fermentation. Next-generation sequencing was carried out on rumen samples collected at 7 weeks of age. Results showed that CTL kids lacked rumen pro

SUBMITTER: Palma-Hidalgo JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8453066 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature