THE INSERTION OF RE‐ENTRANT CANNULAE IN YOUNG CALVES AND THEIR MAINTENANCE FOR LONG PERIODS

Re-entrant duodenal cannulae were established in 8 calves 2 to 7 days of age and 1 calf at 11 weeks of age. They have been maintained for up to 12 months and collections of digesta from the calves are still in progress. Most difficulty in the maintenance of the cannulae in the calves was encountered when the calves were weaned from milk, due to repeated blockages of digesta in the elbows connecting the re-entrant system. It was found essential that calves were checked at 12 hour intervals or less so that blockages could be cleared and the fluid balance restored by the infusion of Ringer's solution into the connecting tubes of the cannulae.