Investigating the effect of heat stress on the early life microbiome in Japanese dairy calves

Climate change is creating urgent challenges for livestock farming, as rising temperatures and more frequent heat waves reduce animal health, productivity, and welfare. Young calves are particularly vulnerable because their immune and temperature regulation systems are not fully developed, and their gut microbiome—the community of bacteria, archaea, and viruses that support digestion and health—is still forming. In Japan, temperature–humidity index levels regularly exceed calf comfort thresholds during the summer months, potentially leading to reduced growth, greater disease incidence, and reduced long-term performance. Similar threats are emerging in Canada, highlighted by increased frequency of “heat domes,” which cause unprecedented losses in dairy herds. This project will study how heat stress affects the developing gut microbiome communities of pre-weaned calves, focusing on the rumen and large intestine. Using novel “omics” technologies, the research will explore the disruption of early life microbiome development under heat stress and how these changes may affect calf growth, immunity, and resilience. The results will inform management strategies for heat-stressed calves, such as probiotics, microbial modulation, or phage-based strategies. Outcomes will support improvements in calf management in Japan, provide critical information for the Canadian dairy industry, and contribute to building climate-resilient dairy production systems worldwide.

Faculty Supervisor:

Leluo Guan

Student:

Partner:

Hiroshima University

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Agriculture and Food; Sustainability & the Environment; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

The University of British Columbia

Program: