Super-normal milk production subsequent to ventral paramedian abomasopexy

Abstract

37 cases of right- and left-sided abomasal displacement were operated and the abomasum was fixed ventrally. The surgical cases were matched with controls in the same herd and the milk yield was compared over a 12-month period before and after surgery. From the 6th to the 12th month after surgery, the surgical cases produced 5-10 lb more milk than the controls. It was suggested that subclinical abomasal displacement is a common cause of low performance in high-yielding dairy cows.

This paper should be viewed as a case study, not a full analysis of a complex disease. The results suggest strongly that there may be positive effects of abomasopexy beyond simply cutting the losses associated with this production disease.