Displaced abomasum in dairy cows - Prevention and monitoring

The objective of this article is to summarize studies that we conducted on prevention of and monitoring for displaced abomasum in dairy cows. Our find ings indicate that displaced abomasum is a moderately hereditary trait. Sub clinical ketosis is a significant risk factor of displaced abomasum. Thus, displaced abomasum incidence may be lowered by genetic selection and by pre vention of subclinical ketosis. To monitor cows for displaced abomasum aspa rtate-aminotransferase activity in blood, beta-hydroxybutyrate concentratio n in blood and milk, and the fat protein ratio in milk may be used because these parameters are frequently increased prior to displaced abomasum diagn osis.