THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SELECTED METABOLIC PARAMETERS AND LEFT ABOMASAL DISPLACEMENT IN DAIRY-COWS

The objective of this study was to examine the association between sel ected metabolic parameters and subsequent left displaced abomasum (LDA ) diagnosis in dairy cows. Forty-four LDA cows sampled in the third we ek ante partum (a.p.) which was at a median of 34 days prior to LDA di agnosis, 36 LDA cows sampled in the first week post partum (p.p.) whic h was at a median of 14 days prior and 28 LDA cows sampled in the seco nd week p.p., which was at a median of 9 days prior to LDA diagnosis w ere used. Each case was matched to 3 controls by herd and calving date . Data were available from a large: held study. Aspartate-aminotransfe rase (AST) activity, the concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, calcium and urea in blood, and the body condition score (BCS ) were studied. Logistic regression was used to analyse the associatio n between these parameters and subsequent LDA, adjusting for the effec ts of parity and pretreatment. A separate model was used for each samp ling week and each parameter. In the third week ap. none of the parame ters were significantly associated with LDA. AST and BHB sampled in th e first week p.p. and in the second week p.p. were significantly assoc iated with LDA diagnosis: The higher the AST and BHB, the higher the o dds of being diagnosed subsequently with LDA. The lower glucose and Ca in the second week p.p. the higher the odds of subsequent LDA diagnos is. Urea and BCS were not significantly associated with LDA in any of the weeks examined. We conclude that AST and BHB in the first and seco nd week p.p. might be used as tests for subsequent LDA. Glucose, calci um, urea and body condition were either not significantly associated w ith LDA or significantly associated only in the second week p.p.; this may limit their use as tests for LDA.