Analysis of survivorship after displaced abomasum is diagnosed in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to analyze the survivorship of dairy cows after displaced abomasum was diagnosed. Survivorship from the calving preceeding diagnosis of displaced abomasum to removal from the herd was investigated for cows that were diagnosed with displaced abomasum compared with herdmates. For cows that were diagnosed with displaced abomasum, factors that affected survivorship from the diagnosis of the disease to removal were investigated. Data from a total of 135 cows that had been diagnosed with displaced abomasum and 373 controls matched by herd and lactation number were available from a database at the University of Guelph. The hazard rate of removal from the herd was estimated using proportional hazard regression adjusted for intraherd correlation. Diagnosis of displaced abomasum significantly increased the hazarad rate of removal from the herd. For cows that were diagnosed with displaced abomasum the hazard rate of removal increased as parity increased. However, the hazard rate decreased with recurrent displaced abomasum and with higher days in milk at diagnosis of the disease. Although the 305-d milk production of cows that were diagnosed with displaced abomasum was lower during the lactation when the disease was diagnosed, 305-d milk production was not associated with removal of cows with that disease from the herd. Milk production during subsequent lactations did not differ between cows that were diagnosed with displaced abomasum and control cows. Low milk production during the subsequent lactations increased the hazard of removal of cows with that disease from the herd.