Exploring the hidden complexities of the colostrum and milk microbiome in livestock: emerging insights and challenges

The introduction of advanced sequencing platforms has redefined our understanding of microbial communities, revealing their presence in environments long assumed to be sterile. This literature review explores the complex microbiota of colostrum and milk, emphasising its importance for animal health and dairy production. It examines the methods and protocols for sampling and sequencing the milk microbial community. In addition, the review discusses the potential origins of the milk microbial community as well as intrinsic and extrinsic factors like host genetics and feeding strategies that can drive changes in the milk microbial community of livestock. Factors such as nutritional and feeding interventions, along with genetic predisposition, significantly influence milk microbiota, impacting feed efficiency and disease resistance. Despite these findings, the review underscores the paucity of studies and points out technical and methodological limitations, including the lack of standardised protocols for DNA extraction and sequencing and issues with sample contamination. Future research using a multi-omics approach is essential to enhance our understanding and develop strategies to improve livestock health, productivity, and sustainability.