Nutritional Management for the Development and Gut Health of Young Ruminants

Livestock is weaned early in the modern production system to improve their reproductive efficiency. Early weaned animals often along with increased morbidity and mortality since the gut is not fully mature. For young ruminants, the energy derived from glucose in a milk-based diet is absorbed across the columnar epithelium in the intestine before weaning. In contrast, after weaning most of the energy absorbed in the form of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) are from the stratified squamous rumen epithelium, where the solid diet can be converted into SCFA through ruminal microbial fermentation. A proper nutritional strategy of enhancing gut structural and functional development is critical for survival and growth of young ruminants later in life.
This Research Topic welcomes authors to submit their review and research manuscripts concerning the survival and growth of young ruminants. Target animals are dairy cattle, beef cattle, goats, sheep, etc. The authors could focus on the occurrence of the gut structural and functional development and how it is affected by nutritional management.
This Research Topic welcomes, but is not limited to, the following themes:
• Indigenous knowledge and epidemic surveys focusing on survival and health of young ruminants, in developed or developing countries
• The structural and functional development of the organ in young ruminants and its beyond, including the rumen, small intestine, large intestine, and other important organs
• Use of nutritional management in the critical windows to improve survival and growth of young ruminants