Risk factors for abomasal displacement in dairy cows

Abstract

Objective To determine whether various peripar-turient events or 305-day milk production during the previous lactation period were associated with abomasal displacement in dairy cows. Design Retrospective, case-control study. Animals 75 pairs of case and control cows from 3 university-owned and 3 commercial dairy herds. Procedure Cows with abomasal displacement were matched with control cows on the basis of herd of origin, breed, age, and calving date. Frequency of specific periparturient events during the period from 2 weeks prior to parturition to diagnosis of abomasal displacement, as well as milk production during the preceding lactation period, were compared between case and control cows. Results Multivariate analyses indicated that case cows were significantly more likely to have had retained placenta, ketosis, a stillborn calf, metritis, twins, or parturient paresis than were control cows. Dystocia, mastitis, and milk production during the previous lactation period were not associated with abomasal displacement. Clinical Implications Results indicated that a variety of periparturient events were associated with development of abomasal displacement among dairy cows. (J Am Vet Med Assoc 1999;214:1660-1663)