Dynamic Succession and Origin of Gut Microbiota During Early-life in White King Pigeon

Background The gut microbiota plays a critical role in host health, yet the dynamic establishment and key influencing factors of the early-life gut microbiota in pigeons remain poorly understood. Methods This study employed 16S rRNA gene sequencing to characterize the spatiotemporal succession of gut microbiota in White King pigeon squabs (Within one week after birth) and quantify contributions from potential sources, including pigeon milk, cloaca, egg components, feed, and environment. Results Revealed a dramatic transition from prenatal to postnatal microbiota: meconium (G0) was dominated by Pseudomonas (19.6%), Enterococcus 14.5%), and Escherichia-Shigella (8.7%), whereas postnatal communities rapidly shifted to a stable composition dominated by Lactobacillus and Limosilactobacillus (Firmicutes) by day 2. Source tracking analysis demonstrated that prenatal colonization primarily originated from albumen (DB) and female cloaca (XZ), contributing 58.5% of G0 microbiota, while pigeon milk (M0) drove 72% of the microbiota in 1-day-old squabs (G1), outcompeting prenatal microbes. Postnatally, microbiota assembly was increasingly driven by previous-stage communities (65.9-9.1%), with minimal environmental input (10.9% by day 7). Conclusions These findings establish the first 48 hours as a critical developmental window for gut microbiota maturation and highlight pigeon milk as the primary driver of early microbial assembly. The study provides a scientific basis for microbial modulation strategies in pigeon farming, including probiotic-supplemented artificial pigeon milk formulation and biosecurity measures to mitigate prenatal pathogen transmission.