What is the purpose of placing a permanent rumen fistula in some cattle?
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The rumen is permanently fistulated in the left paralumbar fossa to allow cows to be donors for transfaunation of rumen contents to other cows. Transfaunation is used to treat other cows with conditions like ruminal acidosis, vagal indigestion, and peritonitis.
Fresh ruminal fluid contains microbes (bacteria and protozoa), volatile fatty acids (VFAs), microbial proteins, vitamins, minerals, and other buffers. Ruminal fluid can also be collected via siphon from a stomach tube or from animals at the slaughter house.
Ruminal fistulas are also used to study ruminant physiology. Click here to see a video of a fistulated steer from Oregon State University Extension Service.
