Seven Steps to a Successful Transition

 

The period three weeks before and after calving when cows transition from dry to milking is the most stressful period in a dairy cow’s life. All of the changes a cow goes through–the environment, diet, pen changes, and, of course, calving—all can impact immune function for the subsequent lactation and beyond.

Helping cows navigate this critical period takes a comprehensive approach that includes the right balance between proper nutrition, animal health, and management. Here are a few factors to consider to help get your cows off to the right start:

• Stocking density. Give cows 30 inches of bunk space each to avoid overcrowding. Stock pens at around 100% of feedbunk space for far-off dry cows and around 80% for close-up cows. Also, consider how you manage heifers. How and when you bring those heifers into the transition pen will affect density.

Each system is different, so balance stocking density with what is manageable for your operation. That may include looking ahead when you might be experiencing higher than normal calving events. Cows may need to be moved to adjust for better density, or some cows may have to experience shorter dry periods.

• Calving environment. When it comes to the calving area, it is critical to maintain a clean, dry environment for cows to calve. This helps prevent pathogens and bacteria from getting in. Typically, surfaces should be deep-bedded straw, sand, or even rubber mats. What the surface is isn’t as critical as making sure you can keep it clean.

New research out of Denmark shows cows may even like having other cows around during calving. If you have an area where they can go, such as a three-sided pen that is blocked, this is ideal. Often, with individual calving pens, you may move her to a solo calving pen, but this could slow down her progression resulting in higher calf mortality.

• Feeding protocols. Often close-up cows are fed towards the later part of the day at varying times. Protocols need to be followed to make sure feeding times are consistent, especially if products for acidification or lower inclusion ingredients are included.

• Manage dry matter intake. It’s important for cows to eat as much as possible during the close-up period, but remember that dry matter intake will naturally drop as cows get closer to calving. As for ingredients, straw is a popular forage to include in diets. Keep particle length to a one-inch range. Also, water or other liquid may need to be added to diets to hold them all together.

• Immunity support. The transition cow goes through multiple changes from diet changes, rejuvenating the udder, transitioning to the close-up pen, the rapid growth of the calf, and having the calf. All these transitions cause extreme physiological changes to the udder, uterus, and GI tract, making the cow in constant flux. This would be the perfect time to put in an immune support postbiotic feed additive. Including these products in the ration from dry off through the fresh period will help build immune system support during this critical period. It’s important to have sound management all the way from dry-off well into lactation and incorporating an immune support feed additive in these diets can be extremely valuable.

While emphasizing close-up cow nutrition and comfort is important, don’t overlook the far-off dry cows, one of the most important groups on the dairy to protect. New research shows that what happens during the dry period affects the next two generations. We are seeing that it doesn’t matter how we manage those animals; we have impacted them for life. It is clear we need to put forth our best efforts to protect this group.

• Fresh feed and rest. It’s critical to get good quality fresh feed in front of cows regardless of their stage of lactation. Also think about the time budget of a fresh cow, which is also important. She needs all the rest she can get, so avoid locking these cows up for hours to manage and monitor them. Her resting time should be top priority.
• Measure success. When measuring the success of a transition cow program there is always a time lag in the variables measured (i.e., SCC, 60-day cull rate, peak milk, and reproductive success). These measurements are indicators of cows going through a failing or successful system. Identify indicators that indicate if current transition cows are on the right track. It’s all about what you can measure and monitor, so determine what these things are to make sure your program is successful now and not after the fact.

It’s hard for a cow to have a successful lactation if she doesn’t start off well in early lactation. Create protocols to make sure stocking density is where it should be and that the feeding system meets cow needs from a nutrition and immune support standpoint during this critical period, then make sure those protocols are consistently followed.

Regardless of all the other factors associated with managing transition cows, the place to start is making sure cows are consuming enough dry matter. Then ask yourself, are we getting the right cows, in the right pens, at the right time? Ultimately, you’re looking for things the farm can monitor as events are going on, then adjust accordingly.