Observations on the incidence and seasonality of uterine torsion and left displaced abomasum following the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK

Time-series impact analysis was used to compare differences in the rate of reporting of left displaced abomasum (LDA) and uterine torsion by veterinarians in the UK before and after an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2001. There were 150% and 35% increases in the reported incidences of LDA and uterine torsion, respectively, following the outbreak. Changes to feeding practices are likely to have been a major contributor to the increased incidence of LDA, but this factor is unlikely to have influenced the changed incidence in uterine torsion. Given that abdominal size and shape of dairy cows are recognised risk factors for both disease processes, the findings of this study suggest changes in these parameters may have a role in the altered incidences. Additional research is required to further elucidate the risk factors contributing to the increased incidence of LDA and uterine torsion in dairy cows under UK conditions.