The Development of Rumen Function in the Dairy Calf I. Some Characteristics of the Rumen Contents of Cattle of Various Ages

Abstract

Little work has been done to estimate the age at which calves under normal management develop a rumen function that approximates that of the adult. Kesler et al. (3) found that by 6 weeks the color, consistency, and odor of the rumen contents were similar to these characteristics in the adult. ~vIcCandless and Dye (5) estimated from blood sugar values that rumen function became important around 6 weeks of age. Pounden and Hibbs (9) found that they could cause the establishment of adult-like rumen organisms as early as the third week of life by the use of cud inoculation and diets high in hay.