Various clinical and blood biochemical parameters were examined during the transition period in multiparous Holstein cows to evaluate the relationship between nutritional conditions and the reproductive efficiency. Cows with delayed postpartum estrus (determined by the number of days before the first artificial insemination) had elevated prepartum urinary ketone body level, lower ruminal ingesta volume (RV) at 3 weeks postpartum and lower body condition scores (BCS) at 2 and 3 months postpartum. Blood biochemistry profiles of these cows showed elevated prepartum serum BUN, elevated postpartum NEFA and lower postpartum Ca and iP. In cows with longer open periods, BCS was higher prepartum but lower at 3 months postpartum. These cows had lower RV at 3 weeks postpartum. The blood biochemistry of these cows revealed lower prepartum glucose, higher postpartum NEFA and lower postpartum T-CHO levels. These results suggested that food intake and the nutrient status during the transition period play an important role for the reproductive efficiency of cows.

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To understand the incidence and pathology of displaced abomasum (DA) in fattened cattle, the incidence of DA between 1999 and 2003 and clinical findings in 2002 and 2003 in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, were retrospectively reviewed. From 1999 to 2003, the incidence of left DA (LDA) was doubled, while that of right DA (RDA) remained similar. A cattle group H in the same prefecture had remarkably higher incidence of DA compared to the overall prefectural incidence : 6-8 times higher with LDA and 2-3 times higher with RDA. LDA was more likely to occur at 18-23 months of age. Most common clinical findings at the firstrom visit were anorexia, reduced rumen and abomasum motility and a ping on auscultation of the abomasum. Surgical repair was performed in 99 of LDA cases (41.6%) and 9 of RDA cases (22.5%). Among surgical findings, reduction in rumen volume, increased rumen rigidity, abomasal atony and gasfilled abomasum were more often associated with LDA than with RDA. These results suggested that the pathogenesis of DA in fattened cattle is different from that in dairy cows. Our study also revealed that reduced appetite due to vitamin A deficiency, as well as chronic energy deficiency from various diseases, contributed to development of DA.

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