The bacterial microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract of dairy cattle: structure, functions, importance (review)

The review presents the generalized material of experimental studies and review works (114 sources, including 110 foreign) on studying the composition of bacterial microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract in cattle depending on age, clinical condition of animals and level of productivity, shows the influence of the functional activity of microbiota on the formation and development of the organism. The microbiota affects the health and productive qualities of dairy cattle. The bacterial community of the gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in the digestive system. This complex system with feedback, where on the one hand, the microbiota is influenced by the genotype of the host, feed base, living conditions, breeding methods, and drugs used, and on the other hand, the microbiota primarily affects plastic and energy metabolism, but also indirectly affects respiratory, urinary, central nervous, and immune systems of the body. Bacterial diversity is laid down during the fetal period, undergoes significant changes during calf growth, and remains stable throughout life, adapting to changing conditions. Modern studies of gastrointestinal diseases are increasingly focusing on the composition of the microbial community, pointing to the dangers of antibiotic use and the need for a transition to probiotic and prebiotic therapy. Productive qualities of cows, such as milk yield and fat and protein content, also depend on the composition of the microbiota.