DISPLACED ABOMASA AND THIN COWS IN A COMPONENT-FED DAIRY-HERD

In a dairy herd, careful assessment of the feeding program can be useful in resolving the major problems of displaced abomasa and low body condition scores. This column describes the management of a 300-cow Holstein herd that was evaluated by the Production Medicine Service of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Georgia. The herd exhibited a high incidence of displaced abomasa. Eight cows had displaced abomasa in the past 2.5 months; in three weeks, 19% of the cows that calved exhibited the condition. Although milk production increased, feed costs also increased; the owner was concerned about profitability. The data that were collected consisted of evaluation of herd records, evaluation of lactating- and dry-cow feeding programs, collection of blood samples for nonesterified fatty acid analysis, and body condition scoring of lactating and dry cows.