Correction: Utilizing the fecal microbiota to understand foal gut transitions from birth to weaning.
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Understanding how the equine gastrointestinal microbiota develops from birth through weaning is crucial for optimising early foal health and establishing lifelong digestive resilience. Researchers analysed faecal samples collected from foals at multiple timepoints between birth and weaning, using molecular techniques to characterise the composition and succession of microbial communities during this critical developmental window. The study revealed distinct microbial phases aligned with physiological maturation and dietary transitions, with significant shifts occurring around the time foals began consuming solid feed and as milk intake gradually decreased. These findings underscore why management practices during the early weeks—including timing of creep feed introduction, environmental microbial exposure, and dam nutrition—warrant careful consideration, as they directly influence the establishment of bacterial populations that will underpin digestive function throughout the horse's life. For practitioners advising on foal rearing protocols, this research supports evidence-based recommendations about weaning transitions and highlights the microbiota as a measurable indicator of successful gastrointestinal maturation.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •This is a correction notice; refer to the original article (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216211) for substantive findings and practical applications regarding foal digestive health management
- •Understanding foal microbiota transitions may inform weaning protocols and early nutrition strategies, but specific recommendations cannot be extracted from this correction
Key Findings
- •Unable to extract specific findings - this is a correction notice only, not the original research article