The association of displaced abomasum with various periparturient factors in dairy cows. A retrospective study

The associations between displaced abomasum (DA) and various factors in seven dairy herds were investigated. The overall rate of DA in 7026 calving cows was 1.7%. All cows were routinely clinically examined between 5 and 14 days post partum. DA was found, by a retrospective analysis, to be associated in terms of increased relative risk, R, with rising parity, stillbirth (R = 1.97), twins (R = 3.25), retained placenta (R = 6.62), primary metritis (R = 4.26), aciduria (R = 6.17), ketonuria (R = 33.04), and a low milk yield before calving (R = 2.29). No association was established between DA and milk fever. The significance of the associations in relation to the aetiology of the disease, with special reference to the fat cow syndrome, is discussed, and the possible role played by the ruminal acidosis associated with the various factors is investigated.