The right position
When drinking from a teat, the calf has its nose up and its head tilted back. This is comparable to the natural drinking position. This position activates the oesophageal groove reflex and increases the chance that the milk will end up neatly in the abomasum and not in the rumen. Rule of thumb: the withers height is the ideal teat height.
Producing saliva
When drinking from the teat, the calf must suck actively. This makes the milk go down more slowly, which increases the chance that the milk will end up in the right place, in the abomasum. In addition, the calf produces saliva and therefore sodium bicarbonate when sucking. This helps with the digestion of the milk.
More certainty
When using a teat, things are less likely to go wrong, Johan notices. “If the temperature or concentration is not right, things will go wrong much less quickly thanks to the posture and suction behavior than when drinking from a bucket or gutter.”