Establishment of ruminal bacterial community in dairy calves from birth to weaning is sequential.

TitleEstablishment of ruminal bacterial community in dairy calves from birth to weaning is sequential.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsRey, M, Enjalbert, F, Combes, S, Cauquil, L, Bouchez, O, Monteils, V
JournalJ Appl Microbiol
Volume116
Issue2
Pagination245-57
Date Published2014 Feb
ISSN1365-2672
KeywordsAnimals, Animals, Newborn, Animals, Suckling, Bacteria, Bacteroides, Bacteroidetes, Cattle, Colostrum, Diet, DNA, Bacterial, DNA, Ribosomal, Fatty Acids, Volatile, Female, Fusobacterium, Male, Pasteurellaceae, Prevotella, Proteobacteria, RNA, Bacterial, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S, Rumen, Streptococcus, Weaning
Abstract

AIM: Establishment of ruminal bacterial community in dairy calves.METHODS AND RESULTS: Rumen bacterial community was analysed on 6 calves bred according to commercial practices from day one to weaning at day 83 of age, using 454 16S rRNA-based pyrosequencing. Samples taken at day 1 did not produce amplicons. Analysis of data revealed a three-stage implantation process with a progressive but important shift of composition. At day 2, the bacterial community was mainly composed of Proteobacteria (70%) and Bacteroidetes (14%), and Pasteurellaceae was the dominant family (58%). The bacterial community abruptly changed between days 2 and 3, and until day 12, dominant genera were Bacteroides (21%), Prevotella (11%), Fusobacterium (5%) and Streptococcus (4%). From 15 to 83 days, when solid food intake rapidly increased, Prevotella became dominant (42%) and many genera strongly decreased or were no longer detected. A limited number of bacteria genera correlated with feed intake, rumen volatile fatty acids and enzymatic activities.CONCLUSION: The ruminal bacterial community is established before intake of solid food, but solid food arrival in turn shapes this community.SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides insight into the establishment of calves' rumen bacterial community and suggests a strong effect of diet.

DOI10.1111/jam.12405
Alternate JournalJ. Appl. Microbiol.
PubMed ID24279326
ned