Review of Strategies to Promote Rumen Development in Calves

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Rather than a review this is an executive summary of the available literature on the effect of nutrition on rumen development.

I believe that the basic information about anatomy and physiology of the digestive system can be omitted as they are redundant.

There is no discussion on the establishment of the rumen microbiota.

Overall, the ruminal microbiota section is only 1/2 page.

Authors might want to differentiate between dairy and beef calves as the husbandry practices are very different.

in some sections the authors have identified discrepancies in the literature but then they have failed to provide an interpretation for these discrepancies.

the manuscript contains little evidence for a conceptual framework that integrates past and future research in a way that could address the gaps identified in the literature.

Author Response

Please see the attachment. Thank you!

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Reviewer 2 Report

It was well written and interesting.

The figs are relatively poor quality and should be improved.

The review need more depth and consideration, more detail of feed nutrient content, interaction between amount of milk offered and starter intake, forage and animal behaviour.

By line number

143: 1.1. Esophageal groove

This is more correctly called the rumo-reticular grove and should be referred to as that at least once.

251 3.1.1. Forage

Add papers of chopping of forage and effect of age when forage is offered to this section.

275 3.1.1 Physical form

Add full return before this heading

293 1.1.1 Probiotics

Add full return before this heading

317 onwards. It is important to state if probiotics were offered in milk replacer or cereal based starter feed.

346 1.2. Feeding management

It is important the amount of milk offered is included in this section.

‍

Author Response

Please see the attachment. Thank you!

Author Response File: Author Response.doc

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

the authors have addressed the reviewers' comments adequately

Author Response

Accepted and corrected.

A summary was supplemented in conclusion to address major factors contributing to rumen development. (Line 520-529)

A table was supplemented in the text. (Line 81-82)

A recent research was supplemented in the text. (Line 123-126, 489-491 )

The description of the part forage was re-organized to be more logic. (Line 302-306)