Removal of the cecum, including the ileocecocolic junction, and its effects on digestibility in cattle.

The cecum and ileocecocolic junction in each of five 7-month-old Holstein steers were removed. Two steers of the same breed and age were sham-operated. All steers survived and were subjected to a digestibility experiment for 16 weeks. Digestibility of dry matter, neutral-detergent fiber, acid-detergent fiber, and cellulose decreased (P less than 0.05) during postsurgical weeks (PSW) 1 to 4, but not during PSW 16. However, digestibility of protein and hemicellulose was not significantly (P less than 0.07) influenced by the operation. Digestibility of the previously described components was not significantly different from that in 2 sham-operated steers. The mean daily weight gain of the cecectomized steers decreased during PSW 1 to 4; however, it started to increase at PSW 8 so that at PSW 16 it approached preoperative values. The mean daily weight gain of the sham-operated steers also decreased during PSW 1 to 4, but was higher than the preoperative values at PSW 14. The difference in mean daily weight gains between the cecectomized and sham-operated steers was insignificant. The consistency of the feces of the cecectomized steers was loose to watery for a period of about 4 weeks after surgery. At PSW 16, the feces were firm, but not of normal consistency. Feces of the sham-operated steers were loose after surgery, but returned to normal consistency after approximately 7 days. Adhesions developed at the surgical site and involved the ileum, the proximal loop of the ascending colon, and the adjacent mesentery and greater omentum.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)