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Background <p>Early-life nutrition plays a crucial role in shaping gut microbiota and growth performance in ruminants. In water buffalo calves, the pre-weaning period is particularly critical, as the gastrointestinal tract undergoes rapid development and is highly susceptible to environmental and dietary influences. This study aimed to characterize fecal microbiota during early life and evaluate the effects of different milk-based diets on microbial development and growth performance.</p> Results <p>Calves exhibited low microbial diversity and homogeneous microbiota at birth, dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota, with no differences among groups, while microbial richness and evenness significantly increased in all groups during the early weeks of life, reflecting microbiota maturation (Observed features: <i>p</i> = 0.0042, <i>p</i> = 0.0266, and <i>p</i> = 0.0002 for WB, FM, and MD respectively; Shannon entropy: <i>p</i> ≤ 0.0031 for all groups). Beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in microbial community structure between diet-based groups, particularly between water buffalo milk and formula-fed calves. The mixed diet group showed the highest beta diversity dispersion and temporal variation and exhibited the greatest weight gain, which was significantly higher than that observed in the formula-fed group. Genera traditionally considered beneficial, such as <i>Lactobacillus</i> increased across all groups, while <i>Bifidobacterium</i> was more abundant in formula and mixed diets. Functional analysis revealed enhanced metabolic activity associated with nutrient processing and immune-related pathways, particularly in calves fed natural milk.</p> Conclusions <p>Early dietary intervention significantly influences gut microbiota development and growth in water buffalo calves. A mixed milk feeding strategy appears to optimize both microbial maturation and growth performance, suggesting its potential as an effective management practice in the pre-weaning period.</p>

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Effect of different dietary regimes on gut microbiota in water buffalo calves during the preweaning period

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月1日

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  • Rubina Paradiso,
  • Antonio Rinaldi,
  • Marita Georgia Riccardi,
  • Domenico Vecchio,
  • Enrico Fiore,
  • Pasquale Rossi,
  • Esterina De Carlo,
  • Giorgio Galiero,
  • Giuseppe Iovane,
  • Orlando Paciello,
  • Giorgia Borriello

摘要

Background

Early-life nutrition plays a crucial role in shaping gut microbiota and growth performance in ruminants. In water buffalo calves, the pre-weaning period is particularly critical, as the gastrointestinal tract undergoes rapid development and is highly susceptible to environmental and dietary influences. This study aimed to characterize fecal microbiota during early life and evaluate the effects of different milk-based diets on microbial development and growth performance.

Results

Calves exhibited low microbial diversity and homogeneous microbiota at birth, dominated by Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidota, with no differences among groups, while microbial richness and evenness significantly increased in all groups during the early weeks of life, reflecting microbiota maturation (Observed features: p = 0.0042, p = 0.0266, and p = 0.0002 for WB, FM, and MD respectively; Shannon entropy: p ≤ 0.0031 for all groups). Beta diversity analysis revealed significant differences in microbial community structure between diet-based groups, particularly between water buffalo milk and formula-fed calves. The mixed diet group showed the highest beta diversity dispersion and temporal variation and exhibited the greatest weight gain, which was significantly higher than that observed in the formula-fed group. Genera traditionally considered beneficial, such as Lactobacillus increased across all groups, while Bifidobacterium was more abundant in formula and mixed diets. Functional analysis revealed enhanced metabolic activity associated with nutrient processing and immune-related pathways, particularly in calves fed natural milk.

Conclusions

Early dietary intervention significantly influences gut microbiota development and growth in water buffalo calves. A mixed milk feeding strategy appears to optimize both microbial maturation and growth performance, suggesting its potential as an effective management practice in the pre-weaning period.