Alfalfa and starter feeding intervention modulates nutrient utilization and immune homeostasis in yak calves by altering gastrointestinal microbial community development

Twenty 30-day-old male yak calves were randomly assigned to 4 groups, includes the control (CON), alfalfa hay (A), starter feeding (S), and starter plus alfalfa hay (SA) groups. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of different early-weaning paradigms which individually and simultaneously supplied milk replacer with extra alfalfa hay or starter feeding in yaks on the growth and immune performance of yak calves. Indexes reflected the gastrointestinal microbial colonization, the gastrointestinal development and immune, and the growth and immune performance of yak calves were measured.