Comparison between tail vein and jugular vein cannulation in cattle.

Blood samples obtained simultaneously from the jugular and tail (coccygeal) veins during induction of bovine mastitis infection and after administration of 250 IU of adrenocorticotropin did not differ in percentage of hematocrit, concentration of total corticosteroid in plasma, or concentrations of total circulating erythrocytes and leukocytes. Patency of the tail vein cannula was maintained for 1 mo. Tail vein cannulation is a practical alternative to jugular cannulation in cattle.