Interactions between the microbiome, nutrition, behaviour and welfare of domesticated animals

The work was guided by a novel conceptual framework, the microbiota-gut-brain-nutrition axis (MGBNA), and applied integrated methodologies including shotgun metagenomics, behavioural testing, and physiological stress markers across three distinct animal studies.<br><br>In Holstein bulls, four summer dietary strategies (grazing-only, grazing with 2 kg/day concentrate, grazing with ad libitum concentrate, and full housing with silage and ad libitum concentrate) were evaluated.

Bulls in the grazing-only group exhibited higher hair cortisol and lower carcass weights than those receiving concentrate or housed diets. Significant differences were observed in rumen microbial diversity and functional gene profiles, with over 1,400 differentially abundant KEGG orthologs identified across treatments. These differences diminished following transition to a common winter diet, although carcass disparities remained.<br><br>In grazing heifers, four sward types (perennial ryegrass, permanent pasture, and multispecies swards with six or twelve plant species) were assessed across a full grazing season.