Rumen development

Publikováno: 20.10.2015

Calves are born with an undeveloped rumen and an important step that needs to be achieved during this pre-weaned phase is developing this rumen. Early intake of solid feed helps to condition the immature rumen and encourage it to develop so that the calf can eventually obtain a high proportion of its nutrient requirements from solid rather than liquid feed at an earlier time than would naturally occur. Consequently, you will be able to consider removing milk from the diet after a period of weeks, rather than months.

Calves are born with an undeveloped rumen and an important step that needs to be achieved during this pre-weaned phase is developing this rumen.

Early intake of solid feed helps to condition the immature rumen and encourage it to develop so that the calf can eventually obtain a high proportion of its nutrient requirements from solid rather than liquid feed at an earlier time than would naturally occur. Consequently, you will be able to consider removing milk from the diet after a period of weeks, rather than months.

Rumen development can be influenced by diet. Irrespective of your type of rearing system, earlier rumen development can be encouraged by making available:

  • Fresh water at all times
  • High quality starter feed offered in small quantities fresh each day
  • Access to long fibre, for example straw in racks to encourage solid feed intake