Displacement Abomasum (DA), Retained placenta and Metritis

Displacement Abomasum (DA)

• DA is a complex, multifactorial disease, but common risk factors include:

• 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, particularly during the transition period, are major contributors. Diets high in concentrates and low in effective fiber reduce rumen fill, decrease motility, and can increase gas production.

• Decreased rumen fill: The emptying of the uterus after calving, combined with a potential decrease in appetite, creates 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