High incidence of constipation in calves.

A high frequency of constipation was observed in calves with an average bod y weight of 150 kg. Eleven out of 200 animals died, at necropsy intestinal obstruction was identified due to agglomeration of stone like particles, id entified as shell fragments of palm kernels. The calves were fed 3 kg maize silage, 1.5 kg of a commercial mixed feed, 0.5 kg soya meal, and 50 g of a mineral supplement. Hay was offered ad libitum, all animals had free acces s to drinking water. The composition of the mixed diet was estimated by mic roscopy and was completely different from the label as provided by the manu facturer. A palm kernel product with high amounts of stone shells was ident ified in a concentration of 25 % of the mixed feed, confirming the findings in the necropsied calves. The pathogenesis of the obstruction seemed to be influenced by a concurrent infectious disease, which might have had negati ve effects on the gastro-intestinal motility.