ARS/SCA: Effect of maternal diet on the neonatal equine gastrointestinal tract microbiome

This research will: 1) provide important new information about the bacterial colonization of the foal’s gastrointestinal tract, 2) enhance understanding of factors that promote the normal and abnormal colonization and may lead to a better management practices for breeding farms. Specifically, microbial factors that contribute to foal heat diarrhea could be identified. 3) determine whether the microbiome established in early life is resistance or susceptible to manipulation by diet.