Ultrasonographic examination of the reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum during the first 100days of life in calves

Abstract

The goal of this study was to examine the development of the reticulum, rumen, omasum and abomasum in six calves from birth to 100days of age by means of six serial ultrasonographic examinations. The examinations were carried out in standing animals using a 5MHz-transducer as described previously. The calves were primarily fed milk until examination 4 and then they were weaned. The reticulum was assessed for its shape and contractility, the rumen for its size and content, the omasum for its size, content and motility and the abomasum for its size and content before and after the ingestion of milk. The reticulum was seen in all calves starting at examination 2 and had biphasic and triphasic contractions; the latter were associated with eructation. The rumen was always imaged in all calves as early as Day 1 and its visible size increased progressively in all intercostal spaces (ICSs) during the study period. The omasum was best imaged in the 8th or 9th ICS; it was seen medial to the liver dorsally and usually medial to small intestines ventrally. Its visible size in these two ICSs increased progressively but omasal motility was not apparent. In newborn calves the abomasum was the largest compartment and dominated the abdominal cavity. It was visible from the 5th ICS to the flank. Except for examination 2, the mean visible abomasal length was significantly larger after feeding than before. Lateral abomasal extension to the left was greater than to the right at examinations 1-4, but was much smaller than to the right at examinations 5 and 6 because of progressive expansion of the rumen. Abomasal extension into the right hemiabdomen changed little during the study period. The goal of this study was to examine the development of the reticulum, rumen, omasum and 26 abomasum in six calves from birth to 100 days of age by means of six serial ultrasonographic 27 examinations. The examinations were carried out in standing animals using a 5 MHz-transducer as 28 described previously. The calves were primarily fed milk until examination 4 and then they were 29 weaned. The reticulum was assessed for its shape and contractility, the rumen for its size and content, 30 the omasum for its size, content and motility and the abomasum for its size and content before and

Left Displacement of the Abomasum in 4 Beef Calves

“…In the cases reported here, abdominal ultrasonography was a simple, non‐invasive means of confirming a clinical suspicion of LDA and monitoring abomasal position after rolling. The normal ultrasonographic appearance of the abomasum in calves has been described . Imaging the abomasum dorsally between the rumen and left body wall in conjunction with medial displacement of the rumen has been reported as ultrasonographic evidence of LDA in adult cattle .…”

“…The normal ultrasonographic appearance of the abomasum in calves has been described. 13 Imaging the abomasum dorsally between the rumen and left body wall in conjunction with medial displacement of the rumen has been reported as ultrasonographic evidence of LDA in adult cattle. 14 Similar ultrasonographic abnormalities were readily identifiable in the calves reported here and accurately identified LDA in all four cases.…”

Ultrasonographic Examination of the Reticulum, Rumen, Omasum, Abomasum, and Liver in Calves

“…The reticulum is rarely visualized in the first weeks because it is very small and not close enough to the ventral abdominal wall to be within reach of the ultrasound beams. 5,9,11 From the third week, the reticulum can always be visualized in the sternal region. The spleen or the liver is often seen between the ventral abdominal wall and the reticulum until the age of about 80 days (Fig.…”

“…The frequency of reticular contractions increases significantly in the first 100 days of life; there were 0.9, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.4 contractions per minute at the age of 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 days, respectively. 9,11 The reticulum cannot be visualized in pre-weaned calves during and 30 min after ingestion of milk because it is displaced craniodorsally by the expanding abomasum and becomes obscured by the lungs. 6,7 The content and shape as well as the motility of the reticulum do not change during suckling.…”

“…The rumen is examined at the 6th to 12th intercostal spaces (ICSs) and the flank on both sides. 11 Each ICS and the flank are scanned from dorsal to ventral with the transducer held parallel to the ribs. The size of the rumen is determined by defining the dorsal and ventral visible margins of the rumen by measuring the distance from each margin to the dorsal midline using a tape measure.…”