Incarceration of a section of small intestine by remnants of the ductus deferens in steers.

A 13-month-old Charolais steer was examined because of anorexia and weight loss of 1 week's duration. Initially, the steer passed tarry feces for 2 days, but no feces were passed for 4 days before examination. Palpation per rectum disclosed moderate distention of the small intestine and dark tenacious mucus in the rectum. Standing celiotomy was performed through the right paralumbar fossa, and a 60-cm segment of small intestine was found to be entrapped by a fibrous band between the caudal abdominal wall and the pelvic inlet. The band was transected and the intestine was freed. The intestine was judged to be viable and the abdomen was closed. Histologically, the fibrous band consisted of ductus deferens and adnexa; the intestine had become incarcerated through a rent in the mesoductus. Small intestine entrapment through a rent in the right mesoductus was diagnosed in 20 additional steers over a 10-year period. In all cases, the steers had been castrated when weighing more than 100 kg, by manual traction on the testicle and spermatic cord through a scrotal incision. Alternate means of castration that prevent disruption of the abdominal mesoductus may prevent development of this condition.