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The Influence of the Ration and Rumen Inoculation on the Establishment of Certain Microorganisms in the Rumens of Young Calves¹

Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station, Wooster

ABSTRACT

The rumens of young calves being fed milk and various dry feed rations were inoculated with microorganisms from the rumens of mature stock by placing pieces of cuds from the latter in the posterior of the mouths of the calves. The inoculations were omitted from similarly fed calves used as controls.

The inoculations assisted in the establishment of protozoa in the rumens of calves eating either hay alone or both hay and grain. They assisted in the establishment of some, but not all, of the characteristic varieties of rumen micro-flora which were associated with hay ingestion in calves fed on alfalfa hay alone. The establishment of varieties of organisms which were associated with the ingestion of grain was not assisted by the inoculations. The establishment of the varieties of flora which were associated with hay ingestion was inhibited in some calves when grain was fed.

The inoculated calves on a diet of alfalfa hay and milk alone were considered to have a better appearance than the controls, but this difference was not apparent between the inoculated and uninoculated groups fed on both hay and grain. Data reported elsewhere (5) show that uniformly higher levels of ascorbic acid in the blood plasma were maintained during the first 6 weeks following birth in the inoculated calves fed alfalfa hay and milk alone than in the calves of any other group. Gains in weight by the calves were very similar in all groups during the first 3 weeks of age. During the second 3-week period, all groups made similar gains except group V, which received a commercial calf starter grain ration. The two groups of calves fed on alfalfa hay and milk alone were free of diarrhea, but the incidence in all other groups was in excess of 50 per cent.

Feces were examined in a search for sources of organisms which resembled natural inhabitants of rumens and some appeared to be present.

¹ Journal article no. 28–48, Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station. Published with the approval of the Associate Director of the Ohio Agricultural Experiment Station.