Epidemiology and risk factors of cecal dilatation/dislocation and abomasaldisplacement in dairy cows

The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of cecal dilatation/ dislocation (CDD) and abomasal displacement (DA) in Switzerland, to identif y risk factors for both diseases, and to compare directly their epidemiolog ic situation. The epidemiologic study included 158 cases of CDD and 119 cas es of DA from the cases referred to both University Clinics of Berne and Zu rich. The results showed that DA was associated with nutrition-related risk factors: use of minerals and so dium chloride, inadecluate concentrate fee ding and beginning of the feeding. Furthermore, breed was significantly ass ociated with DA, but not with CDD. Finally, milk yield and pasture me re al so significantly included in the models. For CDD nutrition-related risk fac tors were also found:pasture in summer use of corn pellets and cent silage in winter. In the final model,protein concentrate was also included. Althou gh both diseases were found at comparable frequencies, the results of this study indicate marked differences between the epidemiology of occurrence of CDD and DA. Therefore, the hypothtsis of a common etiopathogenesis appears unlikely.