The aim of the study is to characterize lung viral and bacterial microbiome and reveal communities which are harmful for the calves. Additionally, we are investigating which are the differences on the development and interaction of calf faecal microbiota during early life in calves developing bronchopneumonia and diarrhea.

The objective of this comprehensive study is to investigate the relationship between respiratory health, microbial populations, and inflammatory markers in pre-weaned dairy calves.

By focusing on biomarker detection, this study aims to enhance the understanding of respiratory health dynamics in pre-weaned calves, potentially informing future prevention and treatment strategies for bovine respiratory disease.

We will conduct a longitudinal study to determine whether neonatal calf intestinal and respiratory tract bacterial microbiota and virome profiles contribute to the development of lung consolidations, as well as affect the overall long-term performance and productivity. Additionally, we aim to identify early inflammatory markers that could predict the development of lung consolidation.