Tubing

[PennyJ]

Question for a buddy.....he needs to tube feed a calf and asked how to know when the tube is far enough. He asked if it's when he hears stomach sounds. I have no clue what to tell him. Thank you all for any information you can give me.

[springvalley]

just get the tube down the throat, and not the wind pipe. I always listen in the tube to make sure I don`t have it in the wind pipe. You don`t have to have it clear down in the stomach, just down the throat far enough, usually the lengh of the hard plastic tube, good luck. >Thanks marc

[OneDayx2]

This link has a Youtube video. Hope it helps.

Dr. Mark Hilton, Purdue Extension Veterinarian demonstrates how to insert an esophageal feeder in a young calf. The apparatus is used to administer electrolytes and medication to a sick calf.

YouTube

[tinknal]

Originally Posted by springvalley

just get the tube down the throat, and not the wind pipe. I always listen in the tube to make sure I don`t have it in the wind pipe. You don`t have to have it clear down in the stomach, just down the throat far enough, usually the lengh of the hard plastic tube, good luck. >Thanks marc

The calf will always chew on the tube when it is in the stomach, they will never chew on it when it is in the windpipe.

[topside1]

Great Video OneDay,,,,good find, thanks...Topside

[Bret4207]

Excellent skill, excellent item to have on hand. I finally learned how off You Tube and bought a $.75 tube for my lambs. I've saved at least a dozen this year alone.

[PennyJ]

OneDayx2....thank you for the excellent video! I passed the link along. Thank you also to everyone who came to my aid. Basically, my friend has never been around farm animals except when he was growing up/visits to his uncle's farm. I've never had to tube a calf, always been fortunate enough that they'd take to the bottle without issues. Again, thanks a million!!

[OneDayx2]

Topside1 and Penny J glad you found the video helpful. Tubing a calf for the first time can be a scary process. And it's not pleasant for people or the calf I'm sure. But can be a life saver for a sick animal.