Influence of Purified Materials on the Development of the Ruminant Stomach

Abstract

Young dairy calves equipped with rumen cannulae were fed on milk. Various materials such as plastic sponges, cellulose sponges, a purified diet, solutions of the sodium salts of acetic, propionic, butyric, and lactic acids were introduced through the cannulae for periods up to 12 weeks. The presence of plastic sponges alone did not elicit development of the rumen papillae. The rumens of calves receiving either the purified diet or the fatty acid solutions, with ot without sponges, showed marked development. End-products of rumen fermentation rather than then coarse nature of the feed apparently stimulate the development of rumen papillae.