Abstract Early life development and growth are critical in determining the lifelong growth performance and health of ruminants, and weaning poses the greatest challenge to young animals and has the most profound consequence. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of microbial intervention on the growth and development of young lambs and their rumen microbiota as they went through weaning. Forty-eight lambs were allocated to two groups, with one group being orally inoculated with lyophilized rumen fluid, and the other receiving no inoculation served as the control. Growth performance, rumen fermentation characteristics, and carcass measurements were determined weekly one week before and two weeks after weaning. We also determined the population dynamics of total bacteria, protozoa, fungi, and select genera and species of known rumen bacteria and assessed the temporal changes in the activities of glucanase (both endo- and exo-), xylanase, β-glucosidase, and amylase in the rumen content. Our results showed that the early life inoculation significantly increased the apparent digestibility of feed dry matter and crude protein before weaning, and post-weaning crude protein digestibility remained elevated in the inoculated lambs compared to the control lambs. Starch digestibility tended to be higher in the inoculated lambs than in the control lambs two weeks after weaning. Molar proportion of ruminal propionate and amylolytic enzyme activity were higher in the inoculated lambs than in the control lambs after weaning. Different temporal fluctuation patterns of Megasphaera elsdenii and Selenomonas ruminantium, and a lower abundance of Ruminococcus flavefaciens were noted in the rumen of the inoculated lambs compared to the control lambs after weaning. The development of internal organs, including the lower gut and liver, was also stimulated by the inoculation. In conclusion, some rumen bacterial populations of young lambs were clearly affected by the inoculation with rumen microbiota, which could contribute to the digestion of the nonstructural carbohydrates available in the starter feed. Improved digestion of starter feed may enhance the energy and nutrient harvest and utilization in young ruminants during the critical weaning phase.

中文翻译：

---

人工饲喂羊羔冻干瘤胃液反复口服接种对生长性能、瘤胃发酵、微生物种群和器官发育的影响

摘要 生命早期的发育和生长对于决定反刍动物的终生生长性能和健康至关重要，而断奶对幼龄动物构成了最大的挑战，并具有最深远的影响。在本研究中，我们旨在研究微生物干预对断奶期间仔羊及其瘤胃微生物群生长发育的影响。48只羔羊被分为两组，一组口服冻干瘤胃液，另一组不接种作为对照组。断奶前一周和两周后每周测定生长性能、瘤胃发酵特性和胴体测量值。我们还确定了总细菌、原生动物、真菌、并选择已知瘤胃细菌的属和种，并评估瘤胃内容物中葡聚糖酶（内切和外切）、木聚糖酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶和淀粉酶活性的时间变化。我们的结果表明，与对照羔羊相比，早期接种显着提高了断奶前饲料干物质和粗蛋白的表观消化率，并且断奶后接种的羔羊的粗蛋白消化率保持升高。断奶两周后，接种羔羊的淀粉消化率往往高于对照羔羊。断奶后接种羔羊瘤胃丙酸摩尔比和淀粉酶活性均高于对照组。Megasphaera elsdenii 和 Selenomonas ruminantium 的不同时间波动模式，与断奶后的对照羔羊相比，接种羔羊的瘤胃中发现黄色瘤胃球菌的丰度较低。接种还刺激了内脏器官的发育，包括下肠道和肝脏。总之，小羊的一些瘤胃细菌种群明显受到瘤胃微生物群接种的影响，这可能有助于消化起始饲料中可用的非结构性碳水化合物。在关键的断奶阶段，改善起始饲料的消化可以提高年轻反刍动物的能量和营养物质的收获和利用。接种也刺激了。总之，小羊的一些瘤胃细菌种群明显受到瘤胃微生物群接种的影响，这可能有助于消化起始饲料中可用的非结构性碳水化合物。在关键的断奶阶段，改善起始饲料的消化可以提高年轻反刍动物的能量和营养物质的收获和利用。接种也刺激了。总之，小羊的一些瘤胃细菌种群明显受到瘤胃微生物群接种的影响，这可能有助于消化起始饲料中可用的非结构性碳水化合物。在关键的断奶阶段，改善起始饲料的消化可以提高年轻反刍动物的能量和营养物质的收获和利用。