Bright Raven
Well-known member
Last evening at our field day:
Dr. Eric Vanzant, University of Kentucky, Ruminant Nutrition specialist has been researching the the development and differentiation of the bovine stomach.
Providing solid forage beginning at two weeks of age in the form of feed or high quality hay accelerates the development of the ruminant four chamber stomach. Providing high grade solids early causes the stomach to develop into the four chambers - omasum, abomasum, rumen and reticulum. Until solids are introduced into the diet, the calf will stay in the single chambered milk stomach mode. He said it does not take much. The concept is to provide a creep area the cows cannot raid with some kind of solid feed that is attractive to calves.
Dr. Vanzant said the solids cause the stomach to differentiate much faster than those just picking at pasture forage, thus the calf grows faster and is able to utilize pasture forage much sooner.
If you are retaining heifers, the ones developed on solids early will out perform. I have noticed since using a creep hot wire that my calves grow faster and are healthier.
Dr. Eric Vanzant, University of Kentucky, Ruminant Nutrition specialist has been researching the the development and differentiation of the bovine stomach.
Providing solid forage beginning at two weeks of age in the form of feed or high quality hay accelerates the development of the ruminant four chamber stomach. Providing high grade solids early causes the stomach to develop into the four chambers - omasum, abomasum, rumen and reticulum. Until solids are introduced into the diet, the calf will stay in the single chambered milk stomach mode. He said it does not take much. The concept is to provide a creep area the cows cannot raid with some kind of solid feed that is attractive to calves.
Dr. Vanzant said the solids cause the stomach to differentiate much faster than those just picking at pasture forage, thus the calf grows faster and is able to utilize pasture forage much sooner.
If you are retaining heifers, the ones developed on solids early will out perform. I have noticed since using a creep hot wire that my calves grow faster and are healthier.