Gut development in calves doesn't stop after the colostrum window closes, it's an ongoing process shaped by nutrition all the way through weaning. This invited review pulls together what's known about how feeding strategy affects gut structure and function across a calf's early life, not just the first few days. For producers building out a full feeding program rather than just focusing on day-one colostrum, this is a broader look at how nutrition and gut development stay connected long after passive transfer is done.
"Invited review: Nutritional regulation of gut function in dairy calves: Effects on the gut microbiome" — A.J. Fischer, D.L. Villot, M.A. Steele, L.L. Guan. Animal. 2020 Jan;14(S1):s65-s75.