Concerning rumen microflora, please see the following reference:
http://mic.sgmjournals.org/content/29/4 ... ion_detail
A paper version of this article can be found in J. gen. Microbiol. (1962), 29, 563-578.
According to the last paragraph in the introduction section (paraphrased):
Becker & Hsiung in 1929 have shown that the rumen ciliates are
passed from animal to animal by direct transfer of saliva. Cysts have never been found and viable rumen
ciliate are absent in the food and faeces. The active organisms are killed by exposure
to air. Transfer is normally done by direct mouth-to-mouth contact between
animals.
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On another note, neonatal calves are extremely vulnerable to Ecoli (K99).
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/digesti ... nants.html
This organism is typically responsible for the diarrhea observed during the first three days of life and calves catch it when:
1) They don't get colostrum in time (before 24 hrs is critical and ideally within the first 6 hrs of life. The best colostrum is that of older cows because they have been exposed to more diseases and their colostrum will have a larger variety of antibodies compared to a primiparous cow. Colostrum can be frozen, but must be thawed fairly quickly and not with boiling water because that may denature the antibodies)
2) The navel is not dry (dipping several times a day in 5% iodine tincture is a solution)
3) They are exposed to unsanitary conditions (ie manure)