Effects of Continuous Nursing, Length of the Nursing Period, and Rate of Milk Consumption on the Secretion of Pregastric Esterase by Calves

Abstract

The effects of continuous nursing, length of nursing period, and rate of milk consumption on secretion of pregastric esterase by calves were investigated. When 50 lb. of milk was fed continuously, as ten successive 5-lb. increments, the enzyme content of each increment decreased progressively. The quantity of enzyme secreted into a single 5-lb. unit of milk, however, was increased markedly by increasing the length of the nursing period. Increasing the rate of milk consumption appeared to stimulate the output of pregastric esterase slightly. Samples of sham-fed milk collected in the morning contained more enzyme than did those collected in the afternoon.