Development of the Bovine Stomach during Fetal Life

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Abstract
Development of the bovine stomach during fetal life is presented, based upon observations of 30 fetuses and 2 full term calves obtained upon slaughter or at birth from dairy cows. In early fetal life the rumen was largest of the 4 stomach compartments. At full term the abomasum weighed about 0.5 as much as the total stomach. Differentiation of the honeycomb in the reticulum was noticed between 72d and 100th days. Papillae on laminae in the omasum developed slowly. The empty stomach comprised approx. 1.8% of total fetal weight during early development, decreasing noticeably from 6 mos. to about 1.3% at full term.