Journal of Animal Science, Vol 76, Issue 5 1433-1436, Copyright © 1998 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Technical note: a technique for inserting a T-cannula into the distal ileum of pregnant sows

H. H. Stein, C. F. Shipley and R. A. Easter
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801, USA.

Our objective was to develop a technique for cannulating the terminal ileum in pregnant sows and to evaluate the usefulness of this procedure in digestibility studies in pregnant and lactating sows. A simple T-cannula was inserted into the terminal ileum approximately 15 cm cranial to the ileo-cecal valve in a total of 15 multiparous sows at d 40 (+/- 5 d) of pregnancy. All cannulated sows recovered quickly after the surgery and within 3 d they were eating normally. Elevated body temperatures were not registered in any sows, and clinical problems related to the surgery were not observed. At farrowing, normal litters were born, and number of stillborn pigs, number of live born pigs, and daily litter weight gain were not affected by the cannulations (P > .05). Of the 15 sows originally cannulated, 11 sows were used for collection of digesta during gestation and the following lactating period. Eight sows were rebred after weaning, and five sows were rebred after the second lactation period and kept for another cycle. Blockage of the cannulas never occurred, and no serious problems were associated with digesta collections. The experiment demonstrated that pregnant sows can be prepared with a simple T-cannula in the distal ileum and that the cannula can be maintained in sows throughout the reproductive cycle. Hence, the procedure provides a tool for obtaining digesta from pregnant and lactating sows for nutrition studies.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. R. Widmer, L. M. McGinnis, and H. H. Stein Energy, phosphorus, and amino acid digestibility of high-protein distillers dried grains and corn germ fed to growing pigs J Anim Sci, November 1, 2007; 85(11): 2994 - 3003. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Pedersen, M. G. Boersma, and H. H. Stein Energy and nutrient digestibility in NutriDense corn and other cereal grains fed to growing pigs J Anim Sci, October 1, 2007; 85(10): 2473 - 2483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. H. Stein and R. A. Bohlke The effects of thermal treatment of field peas (Pisum sativum L.) on nutrient and energy digestibility by growing pigs J Anim Sci, June 1, 2007; 85(6): 1424 - 1431. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. H. Stein, M. L. Gibson, C. Pedersen, and M. G. Boersma Amino acid and energy digestibility in ten samples of distillers dried grain with solubles fed to growing pigs J Anim Sci, April 1, 2006; 84(4): 853 - 860. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. H. Stein, C. Pedersen, A. R. Wirt, and R. A. Bohlke Additivity of values for apparent and standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids in mixed diets fed to growing pigs J Anim Sci, October 1, 2005; 83(10): 2387 - 2395. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Bohlke, R. C. Thaler, and H. H. Stein Calcium, phosphorus, and amino acid digestibility in low-phytate corn, normal corn, and soybean meal by growing pigs J Anim Sci, October 1, 2005; 83(10): 2396 - 2403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Moter and H. H. Stein Effect of feed intake on endogenous losses and amino acid and energy digestibility by growing pigs J Anim Sci, December 1, 2004; 82(12): 3518 - 3525. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. H. Stein, G. Benzoni, R. A. Bohlke, and D. N. Peters Assessment of the feeding value of South Dakota-grown field peas (Pisum sativum L.) for growing pigs J Anim Sci, September 1, 2004; 82(9): 2568 - 2578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. R. Otto, M. Yokoyama, P. K. Ku, N. K. Ames, and N. L. Trottier Nitrogen balance and ileal amino acid digestibility in growing pigs fed diets reduced in protein concentration J Anim Sci, July 1, 2003; 81(7): 1743 - 1753. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]