[Occurrence of abomasal displacement in cattle in Hesse]

In veterinary practices in Hesse cattle diagnosed with abomasal displacement increased from 0.18% in 1980 to 0.6% in 1992. In this period the percentage of left abomasal displacement (L) (75-83%), right abomasal displacement (R-) (13-16%), and abomasal volvulus (R+) (4-8%) remained constant. In the Medical and Forensic Veterinary Clinic of the University of Giessen (MGV 2) cattle diagnosed with abomasal displacement increased from 2.1% in 1970 to 25.6% in 1992. In this period the percentage of L, R- and R+ was 71, 15 and 13% respectively. The percentage of L had decreased in this period. In 1988 and 1992 the percentage of the Deutsche Schwarzbunte (DSB) breed was 51 and 52% in the Hessian cattle population and with that lower than the percentage of cattle diagnosed with abomasal displacement in the MGV 2, where the percentage of DSB was 80% in 1988 and 79% in 1992. In the period between 1970 and 1992 the percentage of DSB in all cattle referred to the MGV 2 was 51% and with that lower than in cattle diagnosed with abomasal displacement, where it was 80%. The findings indicate, that in Hesse the DSB breed is predisposed to abomasal displacement.