Preparation of Small Ruminants Head Plastinated Specimens using Elnady Technique

The current study was done using a total number of heads (n=10) from apparently healthy sheep (n=5, 35-45kg body weight and 1-3 years old) and goat (n=5, 25-35kg body weight and 1-3 years old) collected from the slaughterhouse at Beni Suef governorate. Heads were used to prepare preserved specimens with the Elnady technique as an alternative method of plastination. The procedure was done in four steps: fixation of samples with 10\% formalin solution, dehydration in tanks of acetone at 100\% concentration, impregnation with glycerin, a non-silicone viscous polymer for 1 week at room temperature, and curing in cornstarch for three days. The preserved specimens were dry, soft, durable, easily handled, and stored at room temperature. Specimens were thoroughly observed over two years to detect the quality of this technique. After regular observation of the specimens at different times over the two years (6 months, 9 months, one year, and two years), slight changes in the color after six months, and a slight rancid odor were detected after 9 months and after one year of preservation, the undesired change of color and odor became clearly noticed