Occurrence of Protozoa in the Bovine Stomach

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Abstract
The digestive tracts of Jersey calves were devoid of protozoa at birth. Examination of samples taken freshly from the stomach compartments and ileums of 12 Jersey calves and a cow from the station herd showed 18 spp. of 8 genera of protozoa. Protozoa were teeming in the rumino-reticular cavity, some living ones persisted in the omasum, nearly all in the abomasum were non-motile (dead?) and none was seen intact in the ileum. This disappearance suggests that their main activity took place in the first-named compartment and that, after being rendered non-motile, they were digested by the host. Green inclusions (chlorophyll) were observed in Entodinium bursa. Calves appeared to acquire more spp. of protozoa as they became older.