Impact of Ruminal Transfaunation on Performance and Health of Fattening Lambs – A Review

Understanding the host impact on its symbiotic microbiota is crucial in redirecting the rumen microbiota and thus improving animal health and performance. Rumen fluid transplantation has been proposed as one of the promising methods for reshaping the symbiotic microbiota and enhancing host health and performance. The aim of this invited review is to summarize the impact of ruminal transfaunation on the health and performance of sheep especially fattening lambs. Rumen transfaunation using the ruminal fluid from a healthy donor animal to improve the rumen microbiota and treat a sick recipient animal was performed long before. The microbial populations and associated advantages of the rumen transfaunation have been explored in many studies before. Rumen fluid transplantation has been performed to confer benefits for animals by altering gastrointestinal tract microbiota. Ruminant scientists agree that restoring ruminal bacterial equilibrium of animals suffering from ruminal disorders like simple indigestion, acidosis, plant intoxication, and following surgical correction of a left-displaced abomasum, would aid rumen function recovery. In humans, the support of a healthy microbial community in the digestive tract is also recommended previously. In humans, digestive disorders have been treated with fecal microbiota transplantation. This review presents the impact of ruminal transfaunation on the gastrointestinal microbial ecology, production performance, antioxidant status and immune response of sheep especially fattening lambs.