Metabolic Predictors of Displaced Abomasum in Dairy Cattle

Abstract

The objective of this field study was to identify metabolic tests available in clinical practice that identified cows at increased risk of left displaced abomasum (LDA). A technician visited 1044 cows in 20 herds weekly from 1 wk before expected calving until 1 wk postpartum. Cows were assigned a body condition score and samples were collected at each visit for measurement of serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), cholesterol, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose, urea, calcium, and phosphorus, and a milk sample was collected postpartum for measurement of BHBA. The probability of LDA was modeled with multivariable logistic regression accounting for clustering. There were 53 cases of LDA (incidence risk = 5.1%) and the median time of diagnosis was 11 d in milk. In cows with LDA, mean NEFA concentrations began to diverge from the mean in cows without LDA 14 d before calving, whereas mean serum BHBA concentrations did not diverge until the day of calving. Prepartum, only NEFA concentration was associated with risk of subsequent LDA. Between 0 and 6 d before calving, cows with NEFA concentration > or =0.5 mEq/L were 3.6 times more likely to develop LDA after calving. For prospective application, among samples taken 4 to 10 d before expected calving, the optimum NEFA cut-point remained 0.5 mEq/L. The sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratio (LR) were 46%, 82%, and 2.6, respectively. Between 1 and 7 d postpartum, retained placenta, metritis, and increasing serum concentrations of BHBA and NEFA were associated with increased risk of subsequent LDA. However, considered separately, postpartum serum BHBA was a more sensitive and specific test than NEFA concentration. The odds of LDA were 8 times greater in cows with serum BHBA > or =1200 micromol/L (LR = 3.5). Cows with milk BHBA concentration > or =200 micromol/L were 3.4 times more likely to develop LDA. Serum calcium concentration was not associated with LDA. Strategic use of metabolic tests to monitor transition dairy cows should focus on NEFA in the last week prepartum and BHBA in the first week postpartum.

Effects of feeding dry propylene glycol to early postpartum Holstein dairy cows on production and blood parameters

“…Feeding dry propylene glycol to early postpartum dairy cow relatively lower plasma NEFA levels compared with cows receiving PG as a top dress, the overall plasma NEFA levels for all cows at 4 and 7 DIM were above the cut-off value of 500 mEq/l suggesting that all cows were mobilizing body fat (LeBlanc et al, 2005). The level of plasma BHBA at >1400 mmol/l was used as the cut-off value for diagnosis of subclinical ketosis in this experiment (Duffield et al, 1998;Carrier et al, 2004).…”

Nutrition, immune function and health of dairy cattle

“…Cows with subclinical ketosis (BHBA .1000 or 1200 mmol/l) during the first 1 to 2 weeks after calving are at greater risk for diseases, that is, metritis ), leftdisplaced abomasum (LeBlanc et al, 2005) and a greater incidence and severity of mastitis (Kremer et al, 1993;Janosi et al, 2003). Several studies have identified potential mechanisms associated with the impairment of the cellular immune function by increased media concentrations of ketones (Franklin et al, 1991;Detilleux et al, 1995).…”

Hipocalcemia no deslocamento de abomaso de bovinos: estudo de 39 casos

“…LeBlanc et al (2005) não encontraram relação entre concentrações séricas de cálcio e subsequente incidência de DAE, creditando a hipocalcemia subclínica ao inadequado consumo de alimentos no pré-parto. Para alguns autores, a hipocalcemia é causada por uma insuficiente adaptação e não pela deficiência de cálcio criada entre a suplementação na dieta e as exigência na lactação (Martín-Tereso & Martens 2014).…”

“…Vários fatores de risco têm sido associados com o DA, entretanto a causa primária da enfermidade permanece desconhecida (Doll et al 2009). Os deslocamentos proporcionam perdas econômicas devido aos custos com tratamento, diminuição da produção leiteira, aumento dos descartes involuntários e mortes (LeBlanc et al 2005).…”