Anne Laarman

Matheus Paez Martins Narciso (University of Alberta)     Although the importance of pH and short-chain fatty acids on rumen development are well known, their impact on the small and large intestine are unclear. This study investigated the effects of ruminal short-chain fatty acid concentrations ([SCFA]) and pH on the rumen and intestine of calves. Holstein bull calves (n = 32) were ...

IntroductionAt birth, the rumen is non-functional, making calves pre-ruminants. By weaning, the rumen is the principal site of volatile fatty acid (VFA) absorption, responsible for over 50% of all VFA being absorbed (Allen, 1997). Consequently, the calf rumen must undergo a ruminant transition, where the rumen goes from non-functional to functional in 6-10 weeks, coinciding wit ...