Predictive values for clinical signs of abomasal ulcer disease in adult dairy cattle

A 12-month prospective study was performed to determine the predictive values for clinical signs of abomasal ulcer disease in a hospital population of 296 adult dairy cows which were believed to have gastrointestinal dysfunction. There were 26 ulcer-positive cows (prevalence 8.8%). The occult blood test was a more reliable indicator of abomasal ulcer disease than were the abdominal pain or anemia tests. Only three ulcer-positive cows were negative for all three tests. Forty-five cows were positive for at least one of the three clinical tests. The principal diseases present in the 22 cows that had false-positive results were traumatic reticuloperitonitis, abomasal displacement, liver disease, cecal volvulus and pneumonia or pleuritis.