Digestive secretions and their regulation in the young preruminant calf

Abstract

The role of digestive secretions is important in transforming food into nutrients that are able to be absorbed and assimilated by the organism. The general principles of the regulation of their synthesis and release are described, underlining the complexity of the mechanisms involved. Examples are given to show the effect of some factors (meals, protein sources, age, digestibility) on gastric and pancreatic secretions and to suggest an explanation of the mechanisms involved. Some illustrations show the possible applications in nutrition or clinical field, in animals and humans. In conclusion, the results obtained using new techniques at our disposal and combining them with classical methods, allow us to open up new ways of investigation. These will probably bring to light new knowledge which can be used in the regulation of secretions in order to adapt them better to the food given, taking the rearing environment into account.