Displacement Abomasum (DA), Retained placenta and Metritis

Displacement Abomasum (DA) common risk factos:

Other diseases: The stress of other disorders occurring around calving, such as ketosis, retained placenta, metritis, and hypocalcemia (milk fever), significantly increases the risk of DA.

Diet: Dietary changes and poor nutritional management.

Decreased rumen fill: The emptying of the uterus after calving = more abdominal space that allows for abomasal displacement. 

How to prevent DA

-Control BCS prepartum

-DCAD to prevent hypocalcemia

-Prevent ↓ in DMI

-Fast ↑ DMI after parturition

-Control diet starch ( ~ 25%)

___ is defined as failure of the fetal membranes to be expelled within ___ after parturition. 

Retained placenta (retained fetal membranes) (RP)

24 hours

Metritis is defined as postpartum cows with an abnormally ___ with fetid red-brown watery or purulent vaginal discharge within the first ___ after calving with or without systemic signs of illness (e.g., fever).

enlarged uterus

21 days 

___% of RP cows will have metritis

60–80

Other things that can cause/increase risk for RP

-Dystocia, twinning, stillbirth, and caesarean section increase the risk for retained placenta

-Inadequate minerals and vitamins supplementation

-Immunity system disfunction prepartum

How to prevent RP and metritis:

-Prevent hypocalcemia

-Se supplementation (0.3 mg/kg DM)

-Vit E (1000 UI/day for dry cows; 3000-5000 UI/day closed up)

-Vit A (~90,000 UI/day)

Metritis Scores

0) Clear discharge;

(1)Cloudy discharge with speck of pus;

(2)Purulent discharge;

(3)Bloody purulent discharge;

(4)Reddish-brownish watery fetid discharge

Diet: NDF&NDSC

NDF (fiber from Forage) → energy → ↑ rumen health 

NDSC (starch from diet) → energy → ↓ rumen health 

• Need a balance between the 2

Low/ high FNDF (NDF)

Low: DMI decreased, Milk decreased 

High: Acidosis, lower milk fat, ↓ health 

FNDF: 19-25% diet MS (optimal range: but can depend on diet)

Low/high NRC (starch)

Low starch: decreased milk, decreased milk prot., decreased efficiency

High starch: Acidosis, decreased milk fat, ↓ milk

NRC Starch: 22-33% is ideal range

NRC Starch Corn Grain (dry)

Max starch: FNDF x 1.3 or 1.5

NRC Starch high moisture Corn Grain

Max Starch: FNDF x 1.1 or 1.4 

Fresh cows diet ~ 3 weeks up to 4

• Metabolizable Prot.: ≥12 %

• LYS: MET ratio (limiting AA): 3:1

• Physically effective NDF (peNDF)- Term developed to measured that stims chewing and contributes to the floating most of large particles in the rumen

• peNDF: 14-5 to 19% of diet DM

Rumen Filling Score (1-5)

Score 1: Thin, fluid, arcs, green

Score 2: Loose, splatters, little form

Score 3 (Recommended): Stacks up 1 to 1 ½ inches, dimples. 2 to 4 concentric rings, sticks to boot 

Score 4: Stack 2 to 3 inches, dry

Score 5: Stacks up over 3 inches

Rumen Filling Score (How to do)

-how the cow is eating for the last 6-8 hours 

-left side of cow

• Lactating cow: 3.5

• Dry Cow: 4.0