The development and function of the rumen in milk-fed calves
- 1 February 1959
- journal article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in The Journal of Agricultural Science
- Vol. 52 (1), 72-78
- https://doi.org/10.1017/s0021859600035693
Abstract
1. The volume of rumen liquor in milk-fed calves at different ages up to 32 weeks was estimated by injecting polyethylene glycol into the rumen and subsequently determining its concentration in the rumen liquor. This volume increased progressively with age in relation to unit body weight. The increase xswas approximately fourfold between 4–8 weeks on the one hand and 28–32 weeks on the other. 2. The amount of milk entering the rumen during a feed was estimated at different ages up to 32 weeks by the subsequent determination of the volume and fat content of the rumen liquor. In the majority of cases less than 5% of the milk fed entered the rumen. There did not appear to be any increase in the quantities of milk entering the rumen as the calves got older. 3. An estimate of the rate of flow of fluid into and out of the rumen (other than milk at feeding) was made by measuring the rate of disappearance of polyethylene glycol from the rumen. A mean figure of 255 ml./hr./100 kg. body weight s.d. ± 50 was obtained in this way. It is suggested that this value probably represents the rate of flow of saliva. 4. Magnesium, in a concentration up to about 8 mg./100 ml. in the rumen liquor, did not appear to be absorbed to more than a small extent through the rumen wall.Keywords
This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit:
- Calcium and magnesium metabolism in calves. 2. Effect of dietary vitamin D and ultraviolet irradiation on milk-fed calvesBiochemical Journal, 1958
- Calcium and magnesium metabolism in calves. Plasma levels and retention in milk-fed calvesBiochemical Journal, 1957
- Ruminant Nutrition, Dietary Factors Influencing Development of Ruminant StomachJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 1956
- The Absorption of Magnesium from the Alimentary Tract of SheepJournal of Comparative Pathology and Therapeutics, 1956
- Studies on ruminant saliva. 1. The composition and output of sheep's salivaBiochemical Journal, 1948
- DETERMINATION OF BLOOD SUGARJournal of Biological Chemistry, 1945
- Factors Affecting the Passage of Liquids into the Rumen of the Dairy Calf. II. Elevation of the Head as Milk is ConsumedJournal of Dairy Science, 1942