Characteristics of gastric secretion in suckling calves

In the investigations on five calves with fistulae in the abomasum and oesophagus the secretion of gastric juice as well as its content of proteolytic enzymes and hydrogen ions were measured. It was found that the gastric juice of calves possessed a fairly high proteolytic activity (about 6 UP/l) and hydrogen ion level already on the 3rd day of life. Sham feeding produced two different types of gastric secretion response, depending on the age of calves. In the first week of life sham feeding caused an inhibition of secretion which became more intensive only about 30 min following food administration. In the second week of life gastric juice secretion increased immediately after feeding.