Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-review

The transformation of the reticulo-rumen (hereafter rumen) from a monogastric state to a functional rumen during early calf development is driven by complex transcriptional reprogramming and changes in metabolic pathways. This transformation involves coordinated morphogenesis, gene regulation, and m...

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Main Authors: M.H. Ghaffari, H.M. Hammon, C. Koch
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:JDS Communications
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910225000110
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author M.H. Ghaffari
H.M. Hammon
C. Koch
author_facet M.H. Ghaffari
H.M. Hammon
C. Koch
author_sort M.H. Ghaffari
collection DOAJ
description The transformation of the reticulo-rumen (hereafter rumen) from a monogastric state to a functional rumen during early calf development is driven by complex transcriptional reprogramming and changes in metabolic pathways. This transformation involves coordinated morphogenesis, gene regulation, and microbial colonization. These processes promote muscle growth, epithelial differentiation, and efficient nutrient absorption and fermentation. Microbial succession begins at birth and is characterized by interaction with the host and the early introduction of solid feed. This succession establishes anaerobic, fibrolytic, and amylolytic bacterial species that are critical for nutrient absorption and productivity. In addition, optimizing grain processing in calf diets along with ensuring adequate forage intake is critical to promoting effective papilla development while maintaining stable fermentation and supporting a stable ruminal pH. Together, these factors are essential for implementing targeted nutrition and management strategies to improve calf health and productivity.
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spelling doaj-art-b4288007ba6d4b67948d0ef7ce327f7c2025-08-20T02:13:54ZengElsevierJDS Communications2666-91022025-05-016342743110.3168/jdsc.2024-0702Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-reviewM.H. Ghaffari0H.M. Hammon1C. Koch2Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Corresponding authorsResearch Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany; Corresponding authorsEducational and Research Centre for Animal Husbandry, Hofgut Neumuehle, 67728 Münchweiler an der Alsenz, GermanyThe transformation of the reticulo-rumen (hereafter rumen) from a monogastric state to a functional rumen during early calf development is driven by complex transcriptional reprogramming and changes in metabolic pathways. This transformation involves coordinated morphogenesis, gene regulation, and microbial colonization. These processes promote muscle growth, epithelial differentiation, and efficient nutrient absorption and fermentation. Microbial succession begins at birth and is characterized by interaction with the host and the early introduction of solid feed. This succession establishes anaerobic, fibrolytic, and amylolytic bacterial species that are critical for nutrient absorption and productivity. In addition, optimizing grain processing in calf diets along with ensuring adequate forage intake is critical to promoting effective papilla development while maintaining stable fermentation and supporting a stable ruminal pH. Together, these factors are essential for implementing targeted nutrition and management strategies to improve calf health and productivity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910225000110
spellingShingle M.H. Ghaffari
H.M. Hammon
C. Koch
Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-review
JDS Communications
title Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-review
title_full Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-review
title_fullStr Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-review
title_full_unstemmed Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-review
title_short Early rumen development in calves: Biological processes and nutritional strategies—A mini-review
title_sort early rumen development in calves biological processes and nutritional strategies a mini review
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666910225000110
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AT ckoch earlyrumendevelopmentincalvesbiologicalprocessesandnutritionalstrategiesaminireview