Change in resting position in dairy calves during the first weeks of life

Abstract

Rumination relies on a gravity gradient, thus, adult ruminants only use sternal recumbency; neonates, however, also use lateral recumbency. Seventy-eight calves were observed to track the shift from variable recumbent positions to exclusive sternal recumbency, which occurred by 16 wk of age, paralleling reports on the development of proper rumination.