Selection of arteries for blood sampling and evaluation of blood gases and acid-base balance in cattle

The aim of this work was to select the most useful arteries for blood sampling in calves and cows in relation to the evaluation of acid-base balance and blood gases in cattle. Following the anatomy and literature data, we chose six central and peripheral arteries-a. axillaris, a. carotis communis, a. brachialis, a. saphena, a. caudalis mediana, and a. auricularis caudalis. The blood samples were collected from 152 calves (2 weeks-6 months old) and 51 dairy cows. The efficiency of collection was evaluated with emphasis on minimizing the restraining and stressing of the animals, because of the possible effects of the animals' responses on blood gases values. In both categories, the results showed that the most convenient and reliable sampling sites were a. axillaris and a. auricularis caudalis. Both in calves and cows, punctures of a. carotis communis and a. caudalis mediana were less successful because of more demanding restraint, the stronger responses of the animals, and the less repeatibility of the sampling, resp. The least efficiency was recorded for the punctures of a. brachialis and a. saphena. Moreover, in these punctures, the difficult restraint of calves in the lateral position may lead to significant changes in the examined indices.