EFFECTS OF ADDITIONAL SOLID FEEDS SUPPLY ON DIGESTIVE PHYSIOPATHOLOGYOF PRERUMINANT CALF

Ninety Pie-Noire 8-day old calves were used to study effect of an addi tional solid feed supply on physical development of the forestomachs, fermentation in the rumen and digestive pathology. Calves were allocat ed among 3 groups : one group of 10 calves for study of effect of rumi nal overcharge on gastro-intestinal motricity ; one group of 24 farm c alves used to study fermentation in the rumen ; one group of 56 calves slaughtered at 4 months of age to study the physical development of t he forestomachs and digestive pathology. Each group of animals was fur ther divided in two lots : one reference lot fed whole milk and one ex perimental lot receiving in addition solid feed. Results showed that s olid feed supply to preruminant calves induced a light increase of for estomachs weight and pronounced development of rumen papillae ; a decr ease of pH and concentrations of ammonia in the rumen in first and sec ond months of age ; an increase of the concentrations of volatile fatt y acids in the rumen in the second and third months of age ; a prevent ion of pica and gastric ulceration a prolongation of gastrointestinal paralysis following rumen overcharge.