Microbiomes in Animal Production: From Host Health and Welfare to Productivity and Resilience

The animal microbiome has emerged as a key determinant of health, welfare, productivity, and resilience across diverse animal production systems. Beyond its traditional role in digestion and nutrient utilization, the microbiome influences immune function, disease susceptibility, behavior, stress responses, reproductive performance, and adaptation to environmental challenges. Growing advances in sequencing technologies, multi-omics approaches, and computational biology have expanded our understanding of host–microbiome interactions and their implications for sustainable animal production.This Research Topic welcomes original research, reviews, and perspectives exploring the role of the microbiome in livestock, poultry, aquaculture species, and other animals. Areas of interest include microbiome-associated health and disease, animal welfare, productivity, antimicrobial resistance, nutrition, environmental sustainability, microbial biomarkers, microbiome-based interventions, and One Health approaches. We particularly encourage studies that integrate microbiome data with physiological, behavioral, immunological, or production outcomes to advance microbiome-informed strategies for animal health and production.The objective of this Research Topic is to advance current knowledge on the role of the animal microbiome as a fundamental component of health, welfare, productivity, and resilience in animal production systems. We aim to bring together multidisciplinary research that explores how microbial communities interact with their hosts to influence physiological, immunological, behavioral, and productive outcomes across a wide range of animal species.This collection seeks to highlight recent advances in microbiome research, including studies addressing host–microbiome interactions, disease prevention and control, animal welfare assessment, nutrition, antimicrobial resistance, environmental adaptation, and sustainable production practices. We also encourage contributions that investigate microbiome-derived biomarkers, microbiome-based interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, psychobiotics, and precision nutrition strategies, as well as the integration of microbiome data with other biological, behavioral, and production indicators.By fostering collaboration among veterinarians, microbiologists, animal scientists, nutritionists, and One Health researchers, this Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and updated perspective on how microbiome science can contribute to improving animal health and welfare while supporting efficient, sustainable, and resilient animal production systems.This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, perspectives, and methodological papers that contribute to understanding the role of the microbiome in animal health, welfare, productivity, and sustainability. Submissions may focus on livestock, poultry, aquaculture species, companion animals, wildlife, or comparative animal models.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, host–microbiome interactions, gut and extra-intestinal microbiomes, animal welfare and behavior, disease prevention and resilience, nutrition and feed efficiency, antimicrobial resistance, microbial biomarkers, environmental influences on microbial communities, microbiome-based interventions (e.g., probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, psychobiotics), and One Health approaches.Studies employing multi-omics, systems biology, longitudinal designs, experimental interventions, or translational approaches are particularly encouraged. Contributions should provide novel biological insights or practical applications that advance microbiome-informed strategies for improving animal health, welfare, and production outcomes. Topic editors: Nicolás Galarce, Yuliaxis Ramayo Caldas, Daniela Luna Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/82619/microbiomes-in-animal-production-from-host-health-and-welfare-to-productivity-and-resilience