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Technical Note:
A total urine collection apparatus for female bison
and cattle
Thomas
J. Deliberto And Philip J. Urness
Authors
are former graduate research assistant, and professor, respectively,
Range Science Department, Utah State University, Logan 84322-5230.
Presently, DeLiberto is a veterinary student, College of Veterinary
Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Wash. 99164-70/2
Reprinted from:
The Journal of Range Management. 48:92-93 January 1995
Summary
A
urinary collection device is described for use in metabolism studies
on female bison (Bison bison) and cattle. Separating urine
from feces, and collecting all urine produced by female animals in
metabolism stalls present difficulties. Catheters are usually used
on animals in confinement, but often with varying degrees of
success. Thus, an external device designed to divert urine into
collection receptacles was developed. The urine collection apparatus
was used successfully in six 8-day metabolism trials con- ducted
during 1991 and 1992.
Abstract
Key Words: Bison bison, Bos Taurus, metabolism studies
Metabolism
studies with ruminants are an important method for determining
physiological responses of animals to changes in a variety of
environmental stimuli such as, ambient temperature, energy and
nutrient levels, and water availability. These studies usually
require the measurement of feed offered, and the separation and
quantification of urine and feces produced by individual animals.
However, total collections of urine and feces are difficult to
achieve from females; the proximity of the meatus urinatus and ishio-rectal
region causes cross-contamination of samples. Consequently,
metabolism studies often use male subjects because of the obvious
ease of separating and collecting urine and feces.
If
total urine collections from female ruminants are required, the
technique most often employed is bladder catheterization. However,
catheters present unique problems such as their difficulty of
insertion, secondary bacterial infections, and often substantial
urine loss.
An
apparatus for separating urine and feces from female cattle and
bison was developed. This urine collection apparatus was modeled
after the urine deflector flap developed for fecal collection bags
by Kartchner and Rittenhouse (1979). Unlike the urine deflector
flap, however, this apparatus was also designed to collect urine.
Materials
and Methods
Urine
collection devices were used on 3 Hereford cattle and 3 American
bison in six 8-day metabolism trials. The urine collection apparatus
was constructed of a 2,000 ml center entry, closed system urinary
drainage bag’, a 500-mm x 250-m strip of burlap, and a 1.2 m
length of 7.6 mm inside diameter plastic tubing. The top of the bag
was cut open, and the edges around the opening were sewn to the
burlap strip using cotton thread in a zigzag pat- tern. The bag was
oriented perpendicular to the burlap, and centered horizontally on
the long axis of the burlap (Fig. 1). The edge along the opening of
the bag was sewn about 25 mm from the edge of the burlap. An opening
to the bag was cut through the burlap in roughly the size and shape
of the vulva.
The
apparatus was attached to an animal in a squeeze chute. A
hypoallergenic biological adhesive’ was applied to the burlap
strip and to the animal; care was taken when applying glue in the
area around the vulva, especially below the anus. The apparatus was
first attached to the animal around the vulva, and then out around
the tuber ischiadica (e.g., the pins).
After
2 to 3 minutes the apparatus was securely bonded, and the animal was
placed in a metabolism crate. Once confined, the plastic tubing was
connected to the drainage valve at the base of the bag and secured
with a number 1-size hose clamp. The end of the tube was placed in a
collection bucket outside the crate (Fig. 2). The length and
position of this tube were modified for each animal to minimize the
possibility of the tube becoming entangled in the animal’s legs.
After
the first 8-day trial was completed, only the drainage bag portion
of the apparatus was removed, while the strips of burlap were left
attached to the animal. This was accomplished by cut- ting the
polypropylene drainage bag with scissors where it was sewn to the
burlap. Any free edges of burlap were then trimmed back to the point
where it was securely bound to the animal. This allowed animals to
urinate freely during the 14-day adaptation periods that preceded
each of the subsequent 8-day trials.
Attachment
of apparatuses during the second and third trials was similar to the
first. However, because the burlap strips of previous apparatuses
were still attach over the tuber ischiadica, the next apparatus was
glued directly to this burlap. On completion of the last trial, the
drainage bag portion of the apparatus was once again removed, and
the burlap strips were left in place until they fell off the animals
unassisted.
Funding
was provided by the Utah Mineral Leasing Fund. Bison were provided
by Utah Department of Natural Resources. Division of Parks and
Recreation. Antelope Island State Park. Authors wish to thank Randy
Wiedmeier. Elizabeth Howery. Eve Davies. David Holland. and Matt
Peterson for assistance in product development.
Manuscript
accepted 31 Jul. 1994.
Fig.
1. Urinary collection bag developed for use on female bison and
cattle.
Discussion
Careful
application of the urine apparatus resulted in little or no sample
loss during the 8-day trials. The most important stage during
application was placement of the apparatus around the vulva. The
adhesive was developed to bond materials to animal hair;
subsequently, the burlap bound tightly to the hair of the hind
quarters. However, little hair exists in the area around the anus
and vulva. Thus, it was necessary to adequately work the adhesive
into the burlap, and the fine hair around the vulva for a sufficient
bond to occur. Also, care was needed to prevent the adhesive from
getting on the vulva itself, or inside the bag. This some- times
interfered with the normal discharge of urine, and ultimately caused
malfunction of the, apparatus.
We
did experience a problem with using the apparatus on cattle that we
did not have with bison. The protruding tuber ischiadica of cattle
resulted in a concave surface in the area between these 2 skeletal
projections. Thus, if the burlap was stretched out around the tuber
ischiadica, it would cause the apparatus to lift away from the
animal in the region of the vulva. We prevented this from occurring
by following the contour of the body when gluing the burlap, rather
than stretching it out over the tuber ischiadica. However, sometimes
the bags did loosen in the region of the vulva towards the end of
the 8-day trial. Usually, bags could easily be repaired by carefully
gluing the loosened area. On 2 occasions, though, enough of the
burlap had become detached that we chose to remove the drainage bag
portion of the apparatus and attach another. The docile behavior of
cattle and their confinement allowed us to easily accomplish this
task in the metabolism crates.
Removal
of only the drainage bag portion of the apparatus between trials,
allowed the animals to urinate freely without causing stress by
attempting to remove burlap that was bound intimately with hair.
Animals did not exhibit any distress beyond that expected during
routine handling, and the apparatus did not appear to adversely
influence their behavior once in place.
Fig.
2. Complete urinary collection apparatus used on female bison and
cattle during metabolism studies.
Conclusions We
found the urine collection apparatus to be an effective means for
collecting total urine samples from female bison and cattle during
metabolism studies. Additionally, the simple construction and
application of the apparatus made it easy to use and did not result
in additional stress or infection to our study animals. Therefore,
we considered it an improved alternative to catheters in our studies
requiring urine collections from female animals.
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