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Left sided abomasal displacement (LDA) is associated with a longer duration of disease, commonly occurs in the first 30 days of lactation and is often associated with metabolic or hepatic disease. Right sided displacement (RDA) is less common, can be associated with other gastro-intestinal disease and often presents as a more severe clinical condition.

 

The condition is commonly associated with high yielding, intensively fed dairy cows in late gestation or early lactation, but can be seen in intensive beef production as well. The lactational incidence of LDA is reported as 1.2% and RDA as 0.4%.

 

The condition is most commonly seen as LDA, occurring sporadically in a dairy herd during the housing period. Sometimes outbreaks may involve several animals. 

Whilst the aetiology of the condition is not clearly established and is probably of a multiple nature, the following risk factors have been identified: high yielding cows, intensive concentrate feeding, late gestation or early lactation, changes in weather conditions, marked body condition score loss in the periparturient period, association with milk fever and poor dry cow management with not enough long fibre in the diet and no introduction to lactation period feeding before calving.

 

In Scandinavia, an association with high levels of root crops in the diet has also been made, particularly with right-sided displacement. It is believed that the soil on the root crops is the initial factor, causing ulceration of the stomach, leading to abomasal atony and displacement. An association with forestomach disorders, particularly foreign bodies (i.e. "wire") in the rumen-reticulum, has been reported as well.

Abomasal displacement results in significant losses in milk production even in those animals successfully treated.

Adult dairy cows with abomasal displacement or volvulus lose their appetites and produce less manure. Milk production also drops.

 

The classic diagnosis of LDA or RDA is made by performing simultaneous “auscultation and percussion” or “pinging” of the abdomen. This is done by “snapping” or thumping the abdomen with the thumb and third finger while listening with a stethoscope. A pinging noise is heard when there is a gas filled organ up against the body wall, such as a displaced abomasum. Other digestive organs can cause a ping in cattle, so it is important to carefully identify the area producing the noise. The classic left and right-sided DA ping is between the ninth and thirteenth rib (on the left and right side respectively), on a line angling between the tuber coxae (the pointy hip bone) and the elbow. If the diagnosis of displaced abomasum is still unclear there are other tests that can confirm, or help to confirm, the diagnosis including passage of a nasogastric tube (a tube through the nose into the stomach), testing the fluid from the rumen, and evaluating blood work for abnormalities.

• Provision of adequate long fibre in dry cow diet (preferably hay)
• Provision of an adequate supply of palatable energy-rich carbohydrates in the diet, particularly immediately after calving
• Provision of adequate daily exercise for dry cows
• Gradual introduction of concentrates in the dry cow diet prior to calving (up to 2 kg /cow) but avoidance of "steaming up"
• Limited amount of maize silage to dry cows
• Avoidance of "peaking" the milk production in early lactation by increasing concentrate intake.
• Prevention of hypocalcaemia and ketosis  in the periparturient period.
• Achieving the optimum body condition score at dry-off (2.5/5) and calving (2.5-3/5), to minimise condition score loss in the periparturient period to a maximum of 1 score (1-5 score).

There are no particular measures necessary for the conversion period or an Animal Health Plan if the farm has not suffered from the condition recently or at all.