[The acid-base equilibrium in the blood of calves suckled by their mothers and in milk-fattened calves].

The influence of different housing systems on the acid/base balance in the blood of 39 calves in a suckler cow herd of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and Deutsche Rotbunte, and 25 veal calves of the breeds Deutsche Schwarzbunte and Holstein-Friesian was examined in a period from the first to the sixth month of life. 1. No differences between the test groups were present in the pH of blood. 2. The body temperature was significant higher in calves of the suckler cow herd. 3. Hemoglobin content of the veal calves was significant higher till the third month of life. With increasing age the relations are changed, and at the end of the experimental period significant higher values were found in calves of the suckler cow herd. 4. Marked differences were also present in the carbon dioxide pressure with significant higher values in veal calves. 5. With regard to the metabolic factors of the blood acid/base balance--buffer base, bicarbonate and base deviation--significant higher values were also seen in veal calves. The results are discussed in connection with problems of intensive fattening of calves in comparison to the conditions of calves in suckler cow herds.