A Silicone Esophageal Cannula; Its Surgical Installation and Use in Research with Grazing Cattle, Sheep or Goats

Abstract

Esophageal cannulae were constructed of silicone and steel to provide soft flexible surfaces in the lumen of the esophagus of cattle, sheep or goats. Removable and embedded stainless steel braces provided strategic rigidity to the cannula in situ and allowed the cannula to be rapidly disassembled or assembled for removal or insertion into the fistula. Surgical procedures for establishment and postoperative care of fistulae in cattle and sheep are described. Results of eight grazing experiments with tame pastures indicate that these cannulae, together with rumen cannulae, did not alter output and composition of feces as compared with similar animals not cannulated. Copyright © 1984. American Society of Animal Science. Copyright 1984 by American Society of Animal Science.