Rumen and intestinal microbiota of Japanese Brown cows supplemented with Aso limonite and their calves

Metagenomic analysis of rumen and intestinal microbiota was conducted in postpartum Japanese Brown cows (Kumamoto strain, JBRK) fed diets with or without Aso limonite supplementation, and in their calves. Rumen residues were collected using oral swabs on days 30, 60, and 90 postpartum. On day 90 postpartum, fecal samples were collected from the rectum of cows to analyze the intestinal microbiota. At 90 days postpartum, both rumen and fecal samples were also collected from the calves, which were not fed Aso limonite, to evaluate their microbiota.