The functional development of the calf I. Growth of the stomach of the calf

Abstract

1. Fifty-four dairy type calves were grazed together on a perennial-type pasture. At regular intervals from birth to 17 weeks individuals were slaughtered and the weights of their reticulorumens, omasums and abomasums were immediately recorded.2. The recitulo-rumen had the fastest growth rate of the organs of the stomach and the abomasum had the slowest.3. During the first few weeks after birth, the four stomachs altered rapidly in proportion to the live weight of the calf. By 17 weeks of age, the reticulo-rumen apparently had not reached a constant weight relative to live weight.4. As a percentage of the total weight of the three organs, the reticulo-rumen reached a relatively constant proportion by about 8 weeks of age.