Variations in Post-Weaning Development of Ruminal Mucosa in Lambs.

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Rumina of 42 sheep, fed an adequate diet, were examined for assumed characteristics of development: total weight of reticulorumen, percent mucosa, and papillary length, width, and density. The significant correlations of rumen weight, papillary length and papillary density to rate of gain present strong supportive evidence that growth and development of the animal as a whole is related to and may be dependent upon ruminal development. Evidence is presented indicating that dietary antibiotics, chlortetracycline and oxytetracycline, may have a slight effect on mucosal development. An unexplained relationship of mucosal color and gain is presented.