A multi-omic assessment of the mechanisms of intestinal microbes used to treat diarrhea in early-weaned lambs

Abstract

Before weaning, the digestive system of lambs is not well developed; hence, its resistance to infectious diseases is weak. Under intensive feeding systems, lambs can easily be stressed and the risk of bacterial infection is high, which causes diarrhea, which in turn may cause mortality and significant economic losses to the livestock industry. With the elimination of antibiotics in animal feed, the incidence of mortality due to intestinal illnesses in lambs has gradually increased. There are several types of probiotics routinely used in young animals, but the effects and processes of their usage have only been assessed in monogastric animals. The lack of data on ruminants, particularly sheep, has severely hampered the process of efficient and healthy sheep breeding. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify effective and safe functional supplements for lambs.