A method for identifying a microbial composition that inhibits colonization of an enteric pathogen of a first animal is disclosed. The method includes removing a microbial sample from the digestive tract of a second animal. The method further includes culturing the microbial sample, isolating, cultivating and identifying microbial species within the microbial sample. The method further includes creating compositions of one or more isolated microbial species and determining the ability of the composition to inhibit growth of an enteric pathogen in at least one of an in vitro or an in vivo assay. The method further includes identifying a microbial composition capable of inhibiting growth of enteric pathogens in a first animal. A microbial composition that inhibits colonization of an enteric pathogen of a first animal is also disclosed. The composition includes microorganisms from a group comprising Faecalicoccus, Lactobacillus, Megamonas, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Enterococcus, Olsenella, Megasphaera, Pseudoflavonifractor, and Massiliomicrobiota.