Whether your
cattle are in a
pasture or a
feedlot, you're going to have to deal with
gas sooner or later. Now most cattle get by with
belching, but sometimes, it's not enough, and you're going to need a
trocar to get that gas out of the
rumen. It should be an essential part of your
livestock first aid kit.
At least that what the NebGuide says (
Bloat Prevention and Treatment, G74-149-A).
Plan with your veterinarian for emergency treatment for bloat before the grazing season. Equipment needed includes:-
good handling facilities,
- a rubber hose about 3/4" to 1" in diameter and 8 to 10 feet long,
- a supply of defoaming agent, and
- a large trocar (and a sharp knife suitable for opening an incision into the rumen if the trocar fails to relieve the bloat).
Mind you, this is for
acute cases. Try the defoaming agent first, then the trocar, before moving to the incision.
This information provided for entertainment purposes only.