SUMMARY A number of problems seen in veal calves are associated with insufficient adaptation to the changes in husbandry connected with the fattening system. These problems include chronic tympanitis, chronic vomiting, cachexia, unthriftiness, abomasal erosions and ulcers. Some of these problems are associated with failure of the reticular groove reflex, and result in ruminal drinking. Persistent ruminal drinking causes a syndrome characterised by a variety of symptoms such as unthriftiness, severe growth retardation, inappetence, recurrent tympany, abdomal distension. a long dry haircoat and clay-like faeces. Clinical studies performed to investigate the pathogenesis of the syndrome are described. It was found that the milk was stored in the rumen and was partly broken down. The presence of milk in the rumen induced typical changes in the ruminal mucosa (hyper/ parakeratosis) and also inhibited casein clot formation in the abdomasum. The small intestinal mucosa showed villous atrophy. After training, the reticular groove reflex was re-established in a number of patients but the growth rate of these calves did not return to normal.

SUMMARYA two-month-old female foal with duodenal stenosis is described. The foal was in poor condition and showed an abnormal stable behaviour. She stood preferably with her head stretched out and reposing on the mare's back or on the stable ridge. Salivation was an important symptom. Clinical and radiological examination of the oral cavity, the pharynx, and the oesophagus showed no abnormalities, except for the antiperistaltic wave along the oesophagus. Because of her bad condition the filly was euthanized. At post mortem examination, apart from leukoplakia, an erosive ulcerative inflammation was found in the oesophagus and the oesophageal part of the stomach. The stomach was severely dilated, as was the proximal part of the duodenum. A diaphragm in the duodenum with a small perforation was found nine cm distally from the pyloric canal.