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Abomasal Fistula Technique for Calves¹

Department of Dairy Science University of Maryland College Park

ABSTRACT

This technique was used to measure the contribution of the forestomach in the digestion of feeds and to study the effect of forestomach development on glycemia (2). Contrary to previous methods (1) in which the fistula was made on the right side, the fistula was established in the left para lumbar fossa. This had the advantage that calves could be easily fed by gravity flow and there was no leakage around the cannula. However, the abomasum was displaced, which might be a problem in experiments where the rumen was to remain completely functional.

The operation was performed on three- to five-day-old calves anesthetized with either sodium pentabarbitol, Nembutal, (one calf), or sodium methohexitol, Brevane, (four calves). A vertical incision about 3 in. long was made just through the skin in the dorsal central part of the left para lumbar fossa. The muscles were dissected apart enough to grasp the fundus of the abomasum and bring part of it to the outside for cannulation.

¹ Scientific Article No. A-1120, Contribution No. 3565 of the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station.