Use of bovine somatotropin at the time of surgery for left displacement ofthe abomasum in dairy cows

Objective-To evaluate the effect of a single dose of recombinant bovine som atotropin (bST) on certain metabolic values, health, and milk production of dairy cows undergoing surgery for left displacement of the abomasum. Design-Blinded clinical trial. Animals-413 cows with left displacement of the abomasum. Procedure-A single 500-mg dose of bST was administered to dairy cows follow ing surgery in field practice conditions for left displacement of the aboma sum, A placebo of the same carrier without bST was administered to control cows in this blinded study. Metabolic and production responses in a short: term follow-up period were measured. Results-Blood glucose concentrations in cows 3 to 5 days after surgery were statistically higher for treated cows than for control cows. A higher prop ortion of treated cows had improved urine ketone test results than did cont rols. Significant differences in other metabolic values, health, and milk p roduction were not detected. Clinical Implications-Treatment of metabolically compromised cows with bST may have some positive effects, hut further investigation is needed confirm therapeutic value.