Abomasal lesions found in postmortem examination of fattening Holstein-Friesian bulls from central Poland.

Abstract

The health of the gastrointestinal tract in cattle is one of the factors influencing adequate nutrient absorption and body weight gain. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of lesions found in the abomasum of Polish fattening Holstein-Friesian bulls. A total of 149 abomasa from adult bulls from two voivodeships of central Poland were inspected for pathologicalanatomic position (displacement, volvulus), impaction, mucosal membrane lesions (inflammation, hyperplasia), and signs of parasite infestation(Moroccan leather, worm nodules) in one of the Polish abattoirs just after slaughter. Among all the examined males no lesions were observed in only 8 individuals. The most common findings were erosions (75.8%) and type 1 ulcerations (48.3%) of the body, pylorus, or both locations. Signs of parasite infestations were observed in 78.5% of the inspected animals. Significant differences correlated with age were found in the prevalence of healed ulcers, and between voivodeships in the prevalence of type 2 ulcers. The findings of this study indicate that most fattening bulls in Poland suffer from subclinical forms of abomasa inflammation (both diffuse and focal) and middle-large abomasum parasites invasions, which can influence the economics and profitability, as well as welfare, of livestock production.