Cows With Holes - Holey Cows

Wednesday, March 19, 2008


Oh my God! Are there holes in those cows? Yes there are.

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In order to perform experiments on cows, scientists have developed a way to surgically make permanent holes in their stomachs in order to study their digestive systems. The holes are called fistulas, which make the cows fistulated. One can feed the cow, and then later catch the food while it's digesting to see how it's doing.



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90 comentarii:

Joanne Casey said...

Poor things.

Anonymous said...

But those poor things save human lifes...will you say so if it was your life?

Joanne Casey said...

I don't see how peering into the stomach of a ruminant will help save human lives. As someone who doesn't use products tested on animals, I think it would make more sense to test products for humans ON HUMANS.

Anonymous said...

Who cares? They're just cows. I wish to eat them all! God and George W. Bush bless each and every steak!!!!

Anonymous said...

"As someone who doesn't use products tested on animals, I think it would make more sense to test products for humans ON HUMANS."

Experiments using animals, testing on animals has saved countless human lives. Without animal experimentation we would not have vaccines for: anthrax, chicken pox, cholera, diphtheria, flu, influenza b, hep a and b, measles, mumps, polio, rabies, rubella, smallpox, tetanus, whooping cough, yellow fever. We wouldn't have these medications: insulin,penicillin, sterptomycin, anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, anticoagulants, chemotherapy, cyclosporines. We wouldn't have Pacemakers, artificial hearts, artificial hips, artificial knees. We wouldn't have angioplasty, organ transplantation, heart transplations, kidney transplation, liver transplatation, or corneal transplantation.
Think about that you say before you go around acting irrationally.

Anonymous said...

I completely agree with Joanne Casey.
Poor things indeed! True, I eat some meat, not as much as I used to, but I don't believe in animal testing. 'Scientists' should be testing on people only. Look at all the criminals who are wasting away in jail, making the government use our hard earned tax dollers to house and feed these people.
Have you actually looked up all the testing done on animals? These 'scientists' also use toxic chemicals on animals to find out their effects with a certain amount of product. How does this help? Do I really need to know that about 1 teaspoon in a rabbits eye will do the same damage to me if I am stupid enough to get it in my eye in the first place?

Anonymous said...

"'Scientists' should be testing on people only. Look at all the criminals who are wasting away in jail, making the government use our hard earned tax dollers to house and feed these people."

You'd fit right in in nazi germany...

Unknown said...

when i studied animal science at university we had fistualted cows in our dairy herd as well. we did indeed study the digestion, but we also used those cows to treat other cows in the herd.

when a cow gets put on antibiotics those drugs kill off all her gut flora. she needs that flora to digest her food. it will rebuild itself very slowly over time and leave the cow malnourished until that process is complete. with a fistulated animal in the herd, you can actually "harvest" the flora from her and inoculate the other cows. thus saving a lot of recovery time, pain, suffering, and loos of income fromt he down time on milking.

Anonymous said...

Petafags and Joanne Casey said: BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW! OH NOES THE POOR MOOCOWS

Joanne Casey said...

Someone came up with a great idea - test on jailed scumbags! It might sound a bit Nazi-like but not any worse than the exploits of dim George Bush.

xco, bet you're glad you posted this now. Put em up, put em up!!!

;-)

Anonymous said...

It's better to test on humans then animals we eat? What is wrong with you guys?

Do you guys have something against Lions hunting gazels too?

Joanne Casey said...

No that's fine. It's also fine for a lion to eat a human as long as it doesn't test lion cosmetics on them.

Anonymous said...

I propose an idea to all the irrational fools out there opposed to studies such as this. All the medicine and techniques we develop from these studys will not be available to those who are against the research. As someone in research I am disgusted with the ignorance that is spread by people such as joanne and other PETA nuts.

Here is why, besides the obvious, that testing on humans is not practical. Lab animals such as lab rats, mice, rabbits, dogs and so on can be easily bred in large numbers for studies. When you are studing these animals you want them to have as few variables as possible which is why albino lab rats and mice are most commonly used. The genotype is easly known which makes it much simplier to study changes in the animal due to whatever you have introduced into it. With humans this is not easily done and you cannot just order 100 albinos to be bred and then put them down at the end of the study. Also if I needed to remove a tumor from a mouse or perform some other surgery and accidentally hit a artery or organ I dont have to worry...its a lab animal. If you do this with a human you would find yourself in surgery for multiple hours working hard to stop internal bleeding which is often fatal. But with the lab animal...oh well get new ones.

Also as was already pointed out here is that prisoners DO have rights. If you want to live in a place where they dont...I suggest you head to China or another country with rediculous amounts of human rights violations.

If you dont want to live a longer healthier life that studies like this give you...then fine. Just keep your foolish mouth closed next time you feel the need to open it and shower us with your lack of intelligence.

Anonymous said...

LMAO, yeah it's pretty messed up to do that to cows, but I'm quite sure I rather them do it to a cow than a human.

Ariel said...

What is the big deal? It isn't "testing products", it's just biological research.

Also, I would further like to add my two cents that prisoners have rights. It always gets my goat when people are up in arms about animal rights, but don't seem to care much about their fellow man.

r said...

Yes, please. If you do not believe in animal testing, then it is supremely hypocritical of you to partake of the results of that testing, say, of insulin, if you are a diabetic, (and of course, if your child has juvenile diabetes, well, too bad, so sad...) and your mother should absolutely NOT have that cataract operation, she should go blind like a good little PETA activist, and should you get become infected with virtually anything, well, no drugs for you. I suspect at the bottom of this is a very strong death wish. Fine, go ahead and remove yourself from the gene pool, just don't ask me to die for your principles.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone else notice the aperture for the hole looks like the molding for a cable jack?

this could be the start of the wetware revolution...

Anonymous said...

For the record, the cows really don't care. Once the fistula is put in, it doesn't hurt or affect the cow in any way.
Most cattle in the US live less than 8 years before they are sent to slaughter.
Fistulated cows usually live out their natural lives, as many as 30 years and recieve optimal care and nutrition.
Also, rumen-fistulated cows are used for nutrition studies to find opitmal diets for cattle production, not for testing human products.

Joanne Casey said...

Hope you all enjoy your 2-headed babies from using products tested on the wrong species. PETAs not really my style, I'm more of an ALF fan.

Michael Knight said...

Just a thought...Can't wait for our Harkonnen overlords. (just a joke, I know it is for research.) Maybe Neil Diamond can record "Heartplug"...I mean "Stomachlight".

I was basically commenting on the gross out anatomical factor of this article. I used to be a forensic photographer, so for me to find this disturbing says a lot.

They Saw The Whole Of The Internet said...

'I'm more of an ALF fan.'

Same here.

http://www.epguides.de/alf.jpg

Anonymous said...

I really don't see the point of animal right people bitching when the majority of the world doesn't give a dam about what you say. Testing on humans has already been done. Dr. Eduard Wirths, anybody remember him?

Joanne Casey said...

Yeah, he was great, wasn't he?

C'mon keep commenting, I get £10.50 for every reply for my human vivisection research.

Anonymous said...

So you think criminals should as many rights as the person who's life they freely obliterated? I'm not saying all criminals have murdered people. After all, there are also plenty of pedophiles (and quite a number of repeat offenders, as well) rapists, and sure, even some low-lifes in for smaller crimes. However, what I don't understand is why we have such a long line-up for the death penalty. What's taking so long? How hard is it to kill someone? Why don't we ask the inmates?
We humans screwed this whole place up. We are overpopulating at an alarming rate, overusing antibiotics, running out of resources, and generally we can't really blame anyone but ourselves for how the world is. Hey, I'm not happy with China either, for a multitude of reasons.

Anonymous said...

Why does it take so long for an inmate on death row to be executed? Because here in America we have something called the Judicial system. Prisoners are given the right to appeal rulings, and those on death row most certainly will as many times as they can. What do they have to lose? They're already on death row... So instead of being quickly put to death, they spend years in prison, spending taxpayer money on food, accommodations, lawyers, and court costs.

Anonymous said...

lmao

Anonymous said...

Can you name something generally disliked that HASN'T been accused of being a communist...no wait, it's "terrorist" now...organization?

As for the multiple comments about insulin-using animal activists being hypocrites: that's kinda like saying everyone in America should kill themselves because their nation established itself partly by slaughtering millions of innocent natives. A ridiculous tragedy, sure, but more death isn't going to help anyone. No one can claim they don't owe part of their existence to something horrible in the past, but that doesn't make us all evil.

Rant right back at me if you like, but I doubt I'll ever see it.

Anonymous said...

Testing on humans? OK Joanne, you're next.

Joanne Casey said...

Shit, why did no-one tell me I was diabetic?

Michael dry your eyes, are you objecting so much because you and half your family are in prison?

Anonymous said...

To anyone who doesn't use products that have been tested on animals, you are cordially invited to give up most berries, fruits, grains, and vegetables, because humans tended not to eat anything that made the goats sick.

Anonymous said...

This seems to be getting a bit heated. I just want to say that sticking a hole on to the side of a cow to see how their food digests seems to me a complete folly. This appears to be an exhibition of skill and munipulation of a living animals body. This disgusts me.

People in prisons have rights and do not become second class citizens because they have made a mistake (or many).

The ALF is not one organization, its small groups of people who decide to act independantly to end cruelty to animals by whatever means. Different groups of people obviously differentiate between human and animal suffering as a Means to an end of animal suffering. Depends on the individual case.

A philosophical point:
We have a responsibility to serve nature not the other way arround.

Potato.

Anonymous said...

Thats a hoax for sure,
Silly me.

Potato.

Joanne Casey said...

Thanks Potato, it's nice to hear from a decent human being.

Call yourselves animal lovers?

huntingdon Life Sciences

Anonymous said...

I will agree that it's a gross process to see, and I certainly adore animals - I'm even getting a job at the local shelter soon - but scientific research is a necessity. The biological testing done on animals like these cows will, some day, result in much better lives for all of us - the people and the animals. The creation of new medicines, and the general raising of our quality of life - it's called the "Greater good."

Long story short, agreeing with medical research does not mean that a person hates animals.

Anonymous said...

unessissary and cruel....

Anonymous said...

all I wanna say is... whatevers its for THIS IS BITSANDPIECES and that is damn cool!!!

Eliot

wouldnt there be a risk of contaminants getting into the stomach... however the acid, and the several stomachs would cover that.

Anonymous said...

Heres a few things you should know:

Humans have the most developed sense of feelings, animals we use to perform tests on have very few feelings, including an extremely dulled sense of pain, intelligence and knowledge. Most lab animals have such a low sense of intelligence, such as rats and mice, that they dont realize much more than the fact that they are being fed and cared for.

Think about this:

My cousin was born with a severe heart condition, which caused him unbearable pain once he turned about 5. This same condition has a cure, that was discovered through animal testing. The animals tested on were drugged, so during all tests made on them they felt no pain, nor did they realize what was happening. After a week of debating, my cousin was finally drugged, so he felt no pain, but only after they agreed that the risks for using anesthesia were outweighed by the amount of pain he was in. After that, the surgery was performed and now he is all better, with a few setbacks such as a restraint on certain extreme sports.

SO, would you rather be the animal, drugged and unable to feel any pain while saving many lives, or the five year old kid, too young to understand what was happening but old enough to understand that he was in so much pain he wouldnt be able to move in fear of provoking more pain? My cousin screamed for the first two days straight in the hospital, then the third day he finally slept. The fourth day he woke up, and not remembering where he was, he turned over in the bed, and caused himself so much pain he threw up, then passed out. Think about it, these animals may not know it, but they saved a kid from living like that for two weeks, knowing he was dying.

just think about it, and maybe you'll have something to say that is more intelligent than a drugged lab rat next time.

Anonymous said...

idiotus maximus

Anonymous said...

This is sick!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

ACtually, the use of fistulas has been around for some time. Dr. William Beaumont made major breakthroughs in gastronomy in the 1800s with a fistula on a human.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Beaumont

Anonymous said...

I think there are a lot of super models, who would to have a hole in their belly to spare puking their lunches...they can just let it flow out of their belly!!! Awesome, isn't it?

This comment contained sarcasm. Did you find it?

Anonymous said...

I don't know if people realize it but most of the basic foundations for the medical feild today were all discovered by the germans in wwII. They did many experiments on the jews that were in prison. if you look it up on the internet you will see that they did all kinds of sick stuff to them. And seeing something like that makes me sick. I would much rather see any experiment no matter how sick, done on an animal than another human.

Anonymous said...

For the people that are wondering why there are so many criminals waiting on death row, If you research it, a lot of them are actually innocent. there are even some states that have abolished the death penalty because in one year they put to death 3 or 4 people that after the fact were found to be innocent. That to me is horrible. And i dont know if people realize it, but it is actually cheaper for the state and the tax payers if a person is not put to death. It is very expensive to do that. The prison is already there and everything is paid for. The only thing that costs money is the actual court case and lawyer fees. Its not like the state is building a room at the prison especially for the new inmate. The last guy left, the next guy comes to take his place. The exacution cost so much because its expensive to legally kill someone.

Anonymous said...

for gods sake people if you want to preach to everyone not to hurt the poor moo moo that doesn't actually give a dam could you at least get off google for the sake of us students trying to find something useful and as soon as we look online we get bombarded with this bull ... put up a dam journal / investigation about WHY its so bad if you must not just some pics of a perfectly normal procedure!

Unknown said...

This is pretty gross, but you ALL have to think about how much it has helped us in the past and in the future. Things like this might lead to the cure for cancer people!!!
Just think about it!

Anonymous said...

i lol at this :)

Anonymous said...

Seriously, isn't there a slightly less invasive way to study a cow's digestive system other than putting a huge hole in its side? This research isn't even for something life-saving for animals or humans.

I agree that testing on animals has created many strides in science that have benefitted people, but the excuse of "it's just an animal" seems to be the main defense. If you believe in evolution (as opposed to creationism) then we were once "just animals" too, and all but for pure luck and accident, we'd still be that way. Genetically we're very similar to many animals. Many animals are even able to use tools and have language, they're basically just a rudimentary form of what we are.

I have no problems with eating meat or even animal testing to an extent, but I think this is a bit unnecessary. You could probably just insert a camera into the cow's stomach and get the same data without opening a permanant hole into it and exposing it to who knows what bacteria. I think the fistulas are just for the humans' convenience.

I think one should be very thoughtful to the animal they are testing on and stop thinking of it as "just an animal." We should respect it and its sacrifice, whether it is food on our table or an experiment in the lab.

Anonymous said...

animal testing is really wrong. I you were smart you would realize that our bodies are different that a cows or a monkeys so our body will react diffrently than thiers!!!!
STOP THE CRULETY!!!!!!!!!!!!
<3kailtlyn the cow lover!!!!

Anonymous said...

TESTING ON ANIMAL IS NOT GOING TO CURE CANCER!!!! KEEP DREAMING!!!! WE ARENT COWS OR PIG OR MONKEYS!!!!! WERE NO THE SAME!!!!! ANIMALS WILL NOT HELP US CURE ANYTHING!!!!

Anonymous said...

I think you people are sick ! I find this disgusting and feel very sorry for these poor animals. Although, i find the woman in the picure very attractive and i would like her number. JOHNATHAN

Anonymous said...

Another thing! Is that woman a woman because i am not a homosexual! I can officially say i like boobies :)
JOHNATHAN PICKARD

Psycho Bill said...

Dear John,

Even men have boobies. Although they are usually referred to as MOObies. And a love of MOObies isn't exactly an indicator of heterosexuality. Add to that the fact that you can't tell if the person who you're attracted to is male or female, and you're solidly in bisexual territory.

Could you please clarify which peple are sick? Would that be the animal testers, protesters, or the ones who stick their arms inside a cow to get the shit before it hits the ground?

Anonymous said...

My grandma has some kind of fistula...she makes her needs in a bag because she was operated of colon cancer and now she has no rectum. But i don't think a cow fistula will help her now...anymore...

Diana said...

Yeah, all that animal testing has defintely saved the human race (sarcasm). And we still don't have a cure for the common cold. Nothing is more dangerous to the human race than ourselves.

Joanne, I agree with you. I don't see what the scientists hope to get out of this that is so crucial to humanity that it requires drilling a permanent gaping hole in a living creature and pulling grass out of it.

As far as human testing goes, there's nothing closer to the human body than the human body. I don't see what would be wrong with having human volunteers for experiments, as long as they aren't forced into it (ie prison, etc). God knows there's nothing worse than having experiments done on you against your will in "the name of science" and no one batting an eye because it's thought you don't feel pain and are expendable.

Maybe some labs could even offer compensation, I'm sure there would be a lot of people willing to particpate (depending on the nature of the experiments of course).

We're in the 21st century and still messing around on animals, sad. Maybe in the 24th century a new race will be messing around with US! haha

Anonymous said...

If I was a cow and my choices were either to spend my life attached to a milking machine, being on death row for the slaughterhouse, or have some dudes in white coats play around with my soon-to-be shit while I stuff myself stupid and live a long and very healthy life because I'm now a scientific and financial investment - give me the hole.

Anonymous said...

For those who dont know, they plug up the hole when they arent doing anything with the cow, I feel people are thinking they just walk about with the hole open.

Anonymous said...

you cant test on humans stupid!
that weird and pyschopathic! D:
ok then if thats how your feeling
then why don't you be the one that gets tested on !
go on
i dare you...

Anonymous said...

Alright, First off, thoroughly agree with those against the whole ''hole in the cow'' thing, it's sick and utterly appauling. As for the testing on humans thing being psychotic and everything, if its so bad testing on us, why on earth is it right testing on animals? Sure...they may have been sedated. They may have the hole plugged up after, but does it still make it right?
Put it this way, If someone came up to you and asked if they could put a hole into your beloved pet just to see inside its digestive system, would any of you agree? Highly doubtful, why? Because it's "wrong". Well isn't this the same? Any animal, be it Dog, Cat, Pig or Cow, or even a flipping Wolf is loved by people in some form or another.
Now, as one person said in an above comment, How on earth is -THIS- hole in a cow going to save anyone? No one is exactly going to fall inside the cows so some random person is going to have to "suck" them out. And for anyone who is thinking now, "omg is this person so stupid!?" No. I am -NOT- stupid, i care for these poor animals. Who can say what these creatures feel but themselves. But of course you people who are full on for this dont seem to listen to the animals. No they cannot talk, they dont have to. Any true animal lover will know that an animal has its own communication to humans who actually take the time to bond with them. A look, A nudge.. A sound. They are all signs to us about how they are feeling.
These animals are not to be "peered" inside of. They are to be loved and taken care of. And for us to be loyal to them as they are to us. The animals, no matter what species, do what they can to provide us with what we can live on. Milk, Food, all for the sake of man-kind. And what do we give them in return? A looking glass into the digestive system, "just because..."
Isn't it about time we stopped thinking "just because" and started thinking about the animals of the world instead of our own species for once?

LittleDarkFox.

Anonymous said...

I think everyone should stop taking things so personally, Joanne. Assuming that most of the one dude's family is in jail because he DISAGREES with you? We all have different opinions, deal with it.

Anonymous said...

If your talking to me... Im not Joanne...

LittleDarkFox.

Joanne Casey said...

Can I change the bit about prisoners to politicans?

bobbylee2828 said...

ok i understand testing but there is no reason to put a permanant hole the size of a footbal in any animal i eat steak like crazy but the differance is that is dead let someone cut a hole in your side the size of a footbal if i had the choice to have a hole as big as my fist in my side and being killed and cut up into steaks kill me and cut me up doing it for profit is only human greed more money more money more money ha i just had a new born baby and can barly offord to live sorry who is it saving money for here it isnt doing anything for anyone all these big hole in the guts of these cows is humans just another way of the human race trying to control something they shouldnt have any place i would rather be killed and cut into steaks then have a hole in my side for the rest of my life kill thows poor cows and cut them into steaks dont make them live with gapping holes in there side cause its not saving anyone any money if it saved money somehow why are the pices on everything including beef and milk so high kill the poor cows and cut them into steaks better then them living with giant holes in there sides

bobbylee2828 said...

question what would the people here pick

1, would you pick to have a hole the size or your fist in your side

2. or would you rather be cut up into steaks and eaten


i i choose #2 kill me and cut me up death would just be better

Anonymous said...

Ok, wow. People, the cows really don't give a shit. Just because YOU think it'd be horrible if it happened to you doesn't mean a thing. Cows don't have vanity, the hole doesn't hurt them, it's the same as if it weren't there. And someone suggested putting a camera in there... oh yeah very time we need to collect something lets knock the cow out and go in through it's throat while it's hooked up to a breathing tube, I'm sure it'd like that much more.

Anonymous said...

And another thing, I love the shit out of animals, you should see my room.... but really, seriously now...

1. Alternatives - Human testing?

Yes, scientists do human testing, they take volunteers and even pay people to take drugs that are under testing sometimes. However, this is not feasible for most tests that are needed in science.

2. We're not the same!
We probably share at least 80% of our DNA with any given mammal on the planet.

3. It's Cruel.
Tell me what is more cruel: Short term animal suffering, or long term human suffering. Without animal testing we'd really, really be up the creek when it comes to modern medicine.

Connor said...

Nobody who does animal testing /LIKES/ to injure small fuzzy creatures, but they understand that it's much better than the alternative!

Anonymous said...

Why not hire someone who likes hurting little fuzzy animals to dispose of them? I can think of many, many wonderful things to do with them. Most of them involve electricity, wire a few up and see how long they can dance before they drop. Things like that.

BiancaFuckingPaholak said...

i think we should test everything on humans. cows think & feel pain just as humans do, im not saying test it on people in jail. test the crazy physcos that want to kill everything anyway. it is unfair that animals have to suffer from the poor decisions humans decide to make. i would never eat an animal that was produced in a factory farm. it is disrespectful to nature & the animals themselves. the people who do these kinds of things i would gladly make holes in their stomachs & stick my hand in there. fuck them dude.

Psycho Bill said...

Bianca,

Everything is tested on humans at some point.

How do you know that cows think? If so, what do they think of you eating them? Why would you eat a cow that wasn't from a factory farm; they feel death the same way as the others, don't they?

I tried to volunteer to be tested on, but they require test subjects to be sane to begin with, in case what they are testing causes your particular type of crazy psycho.

I guess I don't qualify, since I don't want to kill everything, not at first anyway. There is so much fun to be had with electricity. I like electricity. I like fire, too.

Alpine Absinthe said...

I view other humans as lowly animals anyway, so I don't really see the point in disputing whether testing is done on Bos taurus, Homo sapiens, or Rattus norvegicus. Science must continue until everyone is dead. Or when there is no cake left.

Dr. A Ness said...

As a bovine veterinarian, I can assure all of you that the cows are fully unaware and painless during this simple surgery. What you don't see is the hundreds to thousands of animals that are saved due to these fistulas. Every veterinary school and large farm has a few around to innoculate cows, goats, sheep, alpacas, llamas, deer, and other ruminants with the normal gut flora that may have been diminished by disease or antibiotics for illness and/or surgery. Today I used the rumen juice to transfaunate a cow that had surgery yesterday, and yesterday I used it to aid a goat in digestion who was prone to bloat, and the day before a llama who had had a surgery due to colic. So before you speak, become educated. The fistulas are completely harmless, and the cows live quite contentedly with them. Every fistulated cow I know is quite fat and happy, and I suggest all of you try to be happy too... without arguing over subjects you have no idea about.

Anonymous said...

That is just wrong. How would you like to walk around with a hole in your stomach? Dr. A ness, are you a cow? have you had a hole put in your stomach? i dont think so, so how would you know that the cow is content and didnt feel pain when the hole was made

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Anonymous said...

the fact they let humans and any humans put that glove on and stick their hand in them and feel around is sick. its not scientifical its just sick. what if that were a human, shows how sick some people are.

Anonymous said...

If it were a human, people would be lining up around the block for a chance to stick their hand in somebody's gut. I know I'd love a chance to poke around inside somebody. I'd feed them things, just to see how long it took for it to show up.

Anonymous said...

poor old cows. imagine if you were grazing in a fiels and someone took you and made a giant hole in you. it allso probly gives then dangerouse infections not to mention the pain of a hole being carved into the cows side. poor thing i rly feel for them even tho steak is my favorite foOD putting holes in lives animals is stil cruel

Anonymous said...

Animal testing saves the lives of humans (and animals!). The cows feel no pain, and lead better lives than many other domestic animals. Where would we be without advances such as these?

Anonymous said...

What I don't think a lot of people realize is... this specific type of research
(a was preformed on a human in the 1800's with the medical technology of that time, today's veterinary care is much more advanced (fistulated cows can calve, give milk, and run around just like the rest of the cows. They are treated very well and are kept alive longer than most other cows due to their increased value)
and b) This type of research is not meant to directly benefit humans. Digestive research preformed on cows... is used to benefit cows (and maybe sheep, who are also ruminants.)

The thing about animal testing in general is- many times the procedure or medicine being tested can directly benefit the animal it is being tested on. Were they being mean when they first put a new hip in a dog to help it live a better life?

Also, as I saw someone else mention, these cows are used to treat other cows. A School of Veterinary Medicine located near my hometown (and many others, no doubt!) have a fistulated cow. When cows are treated for certain diseases, all the microbiology going on inside their stomach (the rumen, in this case) changes, which makes them more like us (monogastrics) in respect to the fact that they are temporarily unable do digest fiber. Cows need to digest fiber to get the nourishment their body was designed for. Some extra biological material from the donor cow (who is fistulated) then ends up in the recipient cow's rumen, allowing them to... well, not starve, during their recovery.

These unique cows also serve educational purposes. Heck, I have even heard a story where a class was cleaning out two of the cow's four stomachs and found an engagement ring! I guess "Relationship Saver" can be added to that cow's business card!

Anonymous said...

They do this to test ecoli....to make sure people don't get sick, they aren't testing products on them.

Anonymous said...

i saw a comment on here about how we need to serve nature not the other way around, that is the best thing ive read on here since i started reading all this bs. people need to realize that they are the ones who are damaging this earth and soon it will be destroyed because of our stupidity and greed... think before you speak, i realized from this page there are so many selfish pricks out there. these selfish pricks need to stop picking on someone who is just voicing there opinion. hell your aloud to voice yours arnt you? so all i have to say now is, all these people who think its okay to treat any living thing with cruelty and disrespect (both prisoners and animals) should shut the hell up. also the greed in this world sickens me. all you greedy pricks are definatly rotting in hell :) have fun!

Anonymous said...

After reading all, that's been written here, I would say just the same thing as almost every day...
If only people looked at the quality of the lives they're living instead of quantity of it (and quantity of everything in it)...

Meggz said...

Which is why the world is over populated and slowly crumbling below are feet

Anonymous said...

There are people willing to be uses in testing, just not many companies willing to fork out the cash .

Unknown said...

Why would you want to see that??? That is just plain mean to those cows...Next they are going to want to put holes in our sides and check out how we digest....

Anonymous said...

Create illness...sell medecines....torture animals....sell product...reap money...poison food...pay healthcare....and so on....WE ARE ALL PRODUCTS....we are all being farmed for profit....If anyone really thinks anything is done for anything other than financial gain you are very naive! It doesn't pay to feed the world nor eliminate poverty nor illness etc....despite having the technology to do so...we will never learn until we have poisoned ourselves with cancers from GM, hormone, chemical treated foods, reaped pain and suffering... and destroyed everything....and right now, when I read how incompassionate, cold and ill educated most of us are...I am not sure I'll care...and just for the record.....the majority of animal testing is totally void...even common illnesses mutate from species to species...http://www.vivisectioninformation.com/index.php?p=1_36_Would-drugs-be-safe-for-us-without-animal-tests

Anonymous said...

And just in case you needed some facts that prove animal testing causes more harm than good...http://www.vivisectioninformation.com/index.php?p=1_8_All-you-need-to-know-in-33-facts

Unknown said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY4QkhwQMRA

Unknown said...

Wow. A lot of you are hypocrites. "Don't judge these people for making an opinion about how it's wrong! If you think that this is right, you should burn in hell. :)"

First off, you ask how they know they feel no pain during the operation. How do you think humans feel no pain during surgery?
Kids, this is a little thing called drugs.

Then you say they should just experiment on prisoners, or whatever you sick-minded people said.
Imagine if you were the mother/father of a person, and they went to jail. They do testing on him, and he dies. Now, what if they took an animal and did the testing on it, and it dies. Who's going to be missed? The person that has family, and people that care for them (possibly), or an animal whose siblings and parents didn't really care for it once it was old enough to live on its own?

The animals being in pain. You say that there are special "ways" that the animal can tell you its magical wishes and desires. Don't you think that if the hole cause them any pain, they would do those little gestures to show so? And if you say no, they're just animals and they don't know any better, do you think they are really going to be bothered with the hole?

The thing about getting bacteria from the hole not being closed.. Why the hell would they NOT close the hole? Do you really think scientists are THAT stupid that they wouldn't? And if the cows help with research for other animals as well, would you rather have that ONE cow die from whatever you think is happening to them, or a WHOLE species dying from a fatal disease?

Anonymous said...

I saw cows near a livestock testing facility out in a field with those holes wide open. They do NOT cover them up. There were about 25 head of cattle outside. I was in complete shock. Don't believe me? Go drive through Miles City, Montana.

Anonymous said...

Nice post thank you John

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