title: Factors associated with survival in the herd for dairy cows following surgery to correct left displaced abomasum.
abstract: Left displaced abomasum (LDA) is a common problem in dairy cows. There have been numerous studies focused on predicting prognosis for right displaced abomasal corrective surgery, but a paucity of studies exist focused on more common LDA surgeries. Our objective was to determine if survival to 60 d or 1 yr after surgery could be predicted from the physical exam findings, periparturient disease status, and a biochemical profile from a blood sample obtained at the time of LDA diagnosis. Blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) concentrations were measured immediately using a hand-held meter. Data obtained from CanWest DHI (Guelph, ON, Canada) for all of the study subjects (n=179 cases, by 24 veterinarians from 4 clinics), including cull date, cull reason, and test-day milk production. Cows were classified based on whether or not they were culled within 60 d or 1 yr of surgery. Based on logistic regression, cows that had dystocia [odds ratio (OR)=13, 95% confidence interval (CI)=7-26] or were not ketotic (blood BHBA<1.2 mmol/L; OR=3, 95% CI=1.03-9) at the time of corrective surgery were more likely to be culled within 60 d. Higher serum concentrations of BHBA (OR=0.95, 95% CI=0.92-0.98), nonesterified fatty acids (OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.75-0.88), and Mg (OR=0.49, 95% CI=0.35-0.68) all had a protective effect against culling within 1 yr of LDA surgery. Based on survival analysis, longevity in the herd for 365 d following corrective surgery was associated with higher BHBA and Mg at the time of LDA diagnosis before surgery, as well as milk production following surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Reynen
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kelton
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: LeBlanc
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: Nathalie C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Newby
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address: tduffiel@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Todd F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Duffield
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000018:Abomasum / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007662:Ketosis / Q000662:veterinary; D007774:Lactation / Q000187:drug effects; D016015:Logistic Models; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008274:Magnesium; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid
keywords: dairy cow; displaced abomasum; prognosis; β-hydroxybutyrate