Maternal microbial effects and the dynamic distribution, networks, and functions of pig gut microbiota across the entire life cycle

This study investigated the impact of sow microbiota and developmental stages on the gut microbiome of pigs throughout their life cycle. Fecal samples using rectal swab from 30 sows and 179 piglets were collected on days 5, 35, 80, and 145. A dynamic shift in the gut microbiota was observed as the pigs progressed through different growth stages. Maternal fecal microbiota influenced the piglets’ microbiota, with higher transfer rates of Escherichia-Shigella, Bacteroides, and Fusobacterium. Notably, our findings revealed that not only Bacteroides, a genus essential for breast milk digestion, but also Escherichia-Shigella and Fusobacterium, previously regarded as and assumed to be of environmental origin, in fact originated from the sow. Correlation analysis between bacterial genera and metabolic functional pathways revealed that heme biosynthesis, crucial for pregnancy maintenance, was predicted to increase in postpartum sows and was significantly associated with the presence of Acinetobacter and Campylobacter. Furthermore, potentially beneficial genera such as Butyricicoccus, Parabacteroides, Ruminiclostridium, Ruminococcus, Blautia, Prevotella, Alloprevotella, and Eubacterium were significantly correlated with energy metabolism pathways in pigs during the growing period. This study emphasizes the importance of analyzing microbial functions and networks beyond abundance alone, highlighting the potential of computational microbiome analysis to guide swine health and productivity strategies.