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In a context where the sustainability of livestock farming is of concern to society because of its implications for the environment, food safety, the economy and animal welfare, Europe wishes to carry out a project to study the role of ruminant microbiomes* and their interaction with the animal. Indeed, it appears that microbiomes, associated with the host (the animal), play an essential role in animal health and welfare, but also in the environmental efficiency of farming systems.

To this end, the interconnection and communication between the animal and its different microbiomes will be studied in depth, with the participation of 12 European and 5 non-European countries. HoloRuminant has four main objectives:

At Le Pin Unit, we are particularly interested in the colonisation, persistence and effects of microbiomes in cattle; samples (ruminal, faecal, respiratory and skin) are taken from the birth of the calf to the first lactation, on 30 Holsteins (from the Effialim genetic system) and 30 Normandes (from the Tripl'XL system).

Variability in breed, type of management and feeding are taken into account, as well as the impact of the environment, including the maternal effect.

Microbiomes: all the microbes/bacteria that are an integral part of living organisms