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Relation of Ration Composition to Rumen Development in Early-Weaned Dairy Calves with Observations on Ruminal Parakeratosis¹

Departments of Dairying and Veterinary Anatomy, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater

ABSTRACT

A calf starter containing VFA salts was compared with a control starter in terms of growth, health, ruminating activity, and rumen development of dairy calves. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between the respective starters regarding weight gain and rumen development of calves to 39 days of age. The amount of feed consumed was closely associated with rumen development as indicated by statistically significant regressions (P < 0.025) of various criteria of rumen development (weight of total rumen, muscle and mucosa, and per cent mucosa) on feed consumption to different periods of the experiment.

All of the calves ruminated at 11 days of age; however, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) between groups of calves in the amount of time spent ruminating at either 11 or 25 days of age.

Five out of eight calves receiving the starter containing the VFA salts had some degree of ruminal parakeratosis as compared to one out of eight calves receiving the control starter. The cause of this condition was not determined.

¹ Data taken from a thesis submitted by the senior author to the Graduate School, Oklahoma State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science degree, May, 1962.

² Present address: Agricultural Extension Service, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. L. Baldwin VI, K. R. McLeod, J. L. Klotz, and R. N. Heitmann Rumen Development, Intestinal Growth and Hepatic Metabolism In The Pre- and Postweaning Ruminant J Dairy Sci, July 1, 2004; 87(13_suppl): E55 - 65. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]