Canada (English)
Transition Feeding - Feed & Nutrition
"Lactation begins at dry off" should be the focus when it comes to managing dry cows. In most herds, dry cows are no longer the "forgotten" group who receive the low quality feed not suitable for the milking herd. However, considerable variability remains in the range of dry cow diets fed to cows because feeding dry cows continues to be a farm-specific program. There are goals that need to be achieved and pitfalls that need to be avoided when caring for the dry cow group.
Numerous publications highlight the importance of the transition period in milk production and disease risk. During the last 3 weeks of the dry period and the first 3 weeks of lactation, dairy cows experience challenges with feed intake, an increased risk of metabolic disease such as ketosis and milk fever, and an increased risk of infectious disease such as metritis and mastitis
May 16th 2012
May 15th 2012
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