Ruminal acidosis in dairy calves during the weaning transition

Abstract

The goal of this research was to evaluate the effects of calf starter fermentation on rumen pH, metabolic adaptation of ruminal epithelia and growth of calves during the weaning transition. In study 1, calf starter consumption increased short chain fatty acid concentration in the rumen and changed expression of genes involved in ketogenesis and intracellular pH regulation but did not affect rumen pH. In study 2, decreasing dietary starch content did not increase rumen pH. However, feeding a calf starter that had the highest in situ dry matter disappearance lowered rumen pH without adversely affecting feed intake and growth of calves. These findings suggest that rumen epithelium can metabolically adapt to increased fermentation in the rumen at molecular level, and that sub-acute rumen acidosis may not adversely affect feed intake and productivity of dairy calves during the weaning transition.