Effectively managing the transition period for dairy cows is often talked about as being a key area for overall herd health and performance, and whilst this is true, each farm must have a routine/protocol to take the complexities of transition science and make it into an action that can be repeated day in day out. NWF Agriculture recommends considering some key points for an effective transition management system:
- Body condition score at drying off and at calving
- Hoof health pre-dry off
- Housing/environment
- Dry matter intake through the dry period
- Length of the dry period
- Energy and protein levels
- Mineral contents
- Fresh cow group nutritional levels and supplements
- Metabolic disease strategy
All of these points are equally important and can get complicated unless they are set out in a structure to enable consistency. Whilst we do, and should focus on energy, protein and intake, we often overlook a simple but critical point of rehydration. A rule of thumb is that as a cow calves she releases an equal amount of foetal fluid and membranes to that of the weight of the calf, and given her attention to the calf and possible deficiencies in clean water availability there is a very real risk that the cow is left significantly de-hydrated for a period of time.
To learn more about balancing energy, driving yields and getting cows back into calf, please register for NWF’s Shropshire Farmer Meeting on Wednesday 26th February at 7.00pm at the Wroxeter Hotel. The meeting titled “The first 100 days post-lactation” is hosted by NWF sales specialists Harry Thomas and Charlotte Clifton. Registration is essential, please contact Kirsty Hulse on 07795 340164 or email kirsty.hulse@nwfagriculture.co.uk before 17th February 2025.
