Stomach Tubes
A safe, easy method for feeding weak lambs and goat kids.
To tube feed a lamb, use with a catheter tip syringe.
Instructions/Diagrams:
Stomach Tuber Instructions 
Common Uses
Specs
- Red Rubber Tube
- Flexible rubber. 6.0mm. 16" long.
- Clear Plastic Tube
- Easier to insert because they are less flexible than rubber. However, when it’s cold, plastic tubes are stiff and may cause injury during insertion (a greater concern with goat kids). 6.0mm diameter; 16" long.
How to Use
- Be very careful to gently extend the animal's chin so that its neck is straight before carefully inserting the tube. If the light is good you can visually observe the bulge of the tube sliding down the neck. In bad light, we use our fingers to feel its presence. If you can neither feel nor see the tube, it may well be in the animal's hard hollow trachea and thus the lungs. Be cautious of this. If the tube enters the lungs instead of the stomach, pneumonia and starvation could result.
- Pull the tube out gently and restart it. The chance of wrongly inserting the tube is not as great as it may appear. Simply be sure that the tube is inserted in a straight line from the animal's mouth to its stomach.
- Continue to pass the tube into the stomach. The usual distance is 11 or 12 inches. You cannot pass the tube too far, but it is very important to pass the tube far enough. If it is in the correct position you will hear a gurgling sound through the empty syringe.
- Should the solution not run, the cause could be an airlock or possibly with older animals, the teeth could be clamped on the upper part of the tube. If an airlock occurs, slide tube in and out about 1/2 inch.
- Do not ram the milk into the stomach. We usually do not actually insert the plunger unless using thick colostrum which will not flow on its own. If the plunger is used, gently push the milk into the animals stomach.
Shepherd’s Choice® Management Tip
On many farms during lambing time, one tube gets used over and over again without being cleaned or disinfected. Lambs that are being treated for scours or pneumonia should not be tube fed with a common tube. If you tube feed a sick lamb with a tube, wash it, disinfect it and let it dry before using it again. Keep plenty of tubes on hand.Precautions
Clear plastic tubes are a little easier to insert because they’re less flexible. However, when it’s cold (Midwest USA cold), plastic tubes are stiff and may cause injury during insertion (a greater concern with goat kids). Red rubber tubes are the most flexible.
Producers should NOT tube lambs that cannot hold their heads upright. In most cases these are hypothermic lambs. They need glucose (IP) and warming first. Once the animal has been revived and can hold its head up, then you can use the various stomach tube devices to deliver nourishment.
Read all warnings and cautions on label. For livestock use only.
Listed below are recommended optional components or related items. Your particular situation may require alternative recommendations. Please call and talk to our consultants if there are any questions at 800-282-6631.
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Drenching and Vaccinating
140cc Syringe (4.6 oz) Catheter Tip
Item #553000 -Most commonly used for stomach tubing weak lambs and kids. Can be used as a drencher as well.
$9.00 -
Drenching and Vaccinating
60cc Syringe (2 oz) Catheter Tip
Item #553100 -Most commonly used for stomach tubing weak lambs and kids. Can be used as a drencher as well.
$2.00
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Lydia S from Delaware
The clear tubes are my favorite for tubing lambs and kids. I’ve used lots of different styles and always come back to the clear ones. They’re flexible without kinking too easily and are firm without being excessively harsh on small lambs.
Ed K from South Dakota
I have used these for many years lambing 400 head and wouldn’t be without them. I prefer the clear tubes because they are more firm and easier to feed down. You just have to be careful not to force it too fast. I put the lamb between my legs and stretch he body and head out straight then feed it down. Only once did I have an issue and that was because I was not being patient and hasn’t learned exactly what to do yet. They will harden through the years but keep them out of the sun and don’t expect to use them forever without buying new ones.
Brenda S from Montana
Used these last year and they worked well. Great service, got order fast.
Susan B from New York
Safe and easy way to tube a sick lamb.
Robert M from Florida
Very good feeding tube for young lambs.
