Abomasal dilatation and emptying defect in a flock of Suffolk ewes

Abomasal dilatation and emptying defect was identified in 14 of 130 Suffolk sheep from a single flock in northern California. Abomasal dilatation and emptying defect was diagnosed in 13 of the sheep between November 1986 and April 1987. All affected sheep were ewes and in all, the condition developed during the lambing season. Clinical signs consisted of chronic anorexia and weight loss. Laboratory data from affected ewes reflected concurrent disease and was not helpful in diagnosis of the disease. Necropsy of 13 affected ewes revealed a distended, ingesta-filled abomasum in all of them. The brain stem of 6 ewes was examined, and lesions suggestive of scrapie were not observed. Pedigree analysis determined that in this flock, abomasal dilatation and emptying defect development was independent of sire. A relationship between the age of affected ewes and the disease was not found. Treatment was unsuccessful in 13 ewes, but 1 recovered after treatment with metoclopramide.