Oct 1

Oct 1 Animal Health and Welfare: Transfaunation

Twenty years ago, when I was a Veterinary Technician II in the Large Animal Teaching Hospital at the University of Georgia, one of my responsibilities was giving transfaunation demonstrations to vet students on their large animal rotation. Bonnie, the Jersey, was the vet school’s fistulated cow, and she was a superstar. So, what exactly is transfaunation?

Transfaunation is the act of transferring the digestive flora of one ruminant into another.

As ruminants, cows have four ‘stomachs’- the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum. The largest of them, the rumen, is also called the fermentation vat. This compartment can be accessed by creating a fistula, or passageway, that allows us to see, and feel, digestion in action. As ruminants ‘chew their cud’, they create rumen contractions that turn fibrous feed into (essentially) fermented silage.

While Bonnie munched on hay, I’d put on a rectal sleeve, pop the cap on Bonnie’s fistula and insert my hand. Her rumen would contract and squeeze my forearm as I grabbed a handful of warm wet rumen contents, pulled it out and placed the blob in a strainer over a bucket to gather the liquid material. Amazing! But why?

Rumen fluid is loaded with valuable micro-organisms (that include bacteria, protozoa and fungi) that act like hard core probiotics. Fellow ruminants (cows, goats, sheep, alpacas, etc.) with indigestion or those who are not generating their own rumen fluid can benefit from a donation.

After obtaining about half a bucket of rumen fluid from Bonnie, an orogastric (stomach) tube was passed into the sick patient, and the rumen fluid was administered. Usually, within 24 hours, their system was kick-started into ruminating again.

Transfaunation has been practiced for centuries, especially on dairy farms to help cows who have stopped eating due to heat or stress. Fistulated cows are not only life-savers, they are research and teaching tools. These animals are considered heroes, and are treated as such.

Bonnie definitely led a long life of being spoiled and treated like a queen.

Pictured: Cathy Sue Riehm with Bonnie.

Cathy Riehm

After growing up showing horses, Cathy Sue Riehm moved on to graduate from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Animal and Dairy Science, majoring in Equine Reproduction. One day after graduation, she started as Veterinary Technician II in the Large Animal Teaching Hospital at UGA, working with horses, cows, llamas, donkeys, sheep, goats and exotic animals. Four years later, she moved to Colorado to work for a laarge animal and exotics veterinarian, a camel breeder/trainer and an exotic animal rescue facility. After moving to California, Cathy Sue has worked for several veterinarians, and has also worked closely with giraffes, zebras, antelope and donkeys. Cathy Sue has attended over a dozen veterinary technician conferences and seminars, including the Giraffe Hoof Trimming Conference in CO. She is currently finishing an Associate’s degree in Veterinary Technology. Her experience (professional and personal) and education has been focused on behavior, training, husbandry and medicine, especially hoof health and hoof trimming.