A “microbiome” is all the microbes (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and their genes) living in a specific environment, and how they all interact with each other. Imbalanced microbiomes can cause numerous issues for cattle, including rumen acidosis, bloat, bovine respiratory disease, and liver abscesses. To adjust an established microbiome can be challenging, but it may be effective to intervene early in a calf’s life.

Relevant Links: 

Microbiome – The Little Things May Mean a Lot (article)

How to Manage Colostrum to Allow Newborn Calves to Thrive (article)

Emergency Support for Distressed Newborn Calves (Calf 911 Resources)