-The research with respect to displacement of the abomasum (DA) in dairy cattle is reviewed. Evaluated articles describe epidemiological and experimental studies. The occurrence is elevated with regard to breed, gender, age, concurrent diseases, environmental aspects and production levels as contributing factors and emphasis is placed on the effects of nutrition and metabolism. Reviewing the experimental work, distinction is made between the research into gas production in the abomasum and hypomotility of the abomasum, since both represent presumed pathways in the development of DA. Although the different fields of research have positive contributions to the understanding of the pathogenesis of DA, contradictions in the different studies are present. This is partly due to extrapolation of results from sheep to cows, or because of a low number of cows in the experiments. Finally, general suggestions are made for further research in the field of the pathogenesis of DA. abomasal displacements / risk factors / etiology / review

During the last six weeks of the dry period, eight Holstein-Friesian cows were fed a restricted amount of grass silage; after calving, a mixture of maize silage and concentrates was offered in a feeding regimen designed to induce a displacement of the abomasum. In the first month after calving, the cows were monitored for the following variables: feed intake and composition, milk production, the position of the abomasum, and the pH and osmolality of the rumen contents. In five of the eight cows, a left displacement of the abomasum occurred between four and 21 days after calving in the absence of other diseases. The displacement was temporary, lasting between five and 36 consecutive hours and one or two days in two of the cows (floaters), and for three or more days in the other three. Before these three cows developed the displacement, their abomasum was 4-3 to 7-9 cm higher, its contents had a higher mean osmolality (+19-2 mosmol/kg), and the ratio of roughage to concentrates in their feed was lower (-0-87) than in the three cows that did not develop clinical signs of a displaced abomasum. There were no significant differences in these variables between the floaters and the healthy cows.

This investigation was carried out on 17 Brown Swiss cattle in the Central Research Institute of Konya during the winter and lasting until the end of spring. Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein during the 7 th and 8 th month of gestation and after birth and on the 15 th day after parturation. Blood gas analyses and other chemical parameters were measured by using a Blood Gas Analyzer and Autoanalyzer Instruments. At the same time, liver biopsy samples were obtained from each cow during the experiment in order to observe any fat infiltration to the liver. Blood-ionized calcium (ICa) and normalized calcium (norm Ca) concentrations decreased significantly at parturation. The same parameeters were significantly elevated on the 15 th day after parturation. The other metabolic profiles that were measured changed in significantly during the experiment. Fat infiltration to the liver was observed in a few cows but the level of fat infiltration was not severe.