Abstract
Ileal digesta are often sampled from the pig through either re-entrant or simple T-piece cannulas. There is conflicting evidence, however, concerning the effects of cannulation on nutrient digestion and absorption. In several studies with the pig, cannulation has not influenced overall protein digestibility (Furuya, Takahashi and Omori, 1974; Sauer, Stothers and Parker, 1977; Taverner, 1979; Huisman, Weerden, Leeuwen, Hof and Sauer, 1984) or energy metabolism (Close, Heavens, Stephens and Sambrook, 1984) while in other studies (Laplace and Borgida, 1976; Sauer, Aherne and Thacker, 1979) there have been indications of adverse effects of cannulation on nutrient digestibility. Livingstone and McWilliam (1985) showed an effect of simple ileal cannulation on pig growth which may have been due to decreased nutrient digestibility or utilization.