Effect of feeding volatile fatty acids on the development of gastro-intestinal tract and rumen papillae of buffalo calves

Abstract

Murrah buffalo calves (18) at 11 days of age were allocated randomly on body-weight basis to 3 groups of 6 each. Calves in group 1 (control) were fed whole milk, skim-milk, calf-starter and green fodder; those in group 2 were given in addition, a mixture of propionic and butyric acid and those in group 3 a mixture of acetic, propionic and butyric acids. The quantity of the mixture Was gradually increased to 24 ml/calf a
day. Total gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) weight was significantly higher in group 2. Similarly weight of reticulo-rumen of total GIT, volume ofreticulo-rumen, weight of omasum with content, weight of digestive tract wilhom intestine, average number of papillae/cm²and average length of papillae were also significantly (p<0.05) higher in group 2 than in those in groups 1 and 3. Weight of abomasum with contents and percentage of abomasum of total GIT were significantly higher in group 3 than in control or group 2. Weight of small intestine with contents was significantly (p<0.05) lower in group 3 than in control or group 2. However, weight of oesophagus, weight of empty abomasum, volume of abomasum, percentage of omasum of total GIT weight, weight of empty omasum, volume of omasum, weight of colon with contents, weight of reticulum with contents, weight of empty caecum, weight of empty colon, weight of empty rectum, and number of folds in omasum were unaffected by the nature of treatments.