Transition Cow Tips to Improve Milk Production and Reproduction

The transition period is a critical and high-risk time for dairy cows. During this period, cows go through drastic metabolic changes as they prepare to transition into lactation, start producing milk and repair the reproductive tract all while developing an oocyte to prepare for their next pregnancy.

The goal of transition cow management is to maintain dry matter intake as high as possible up to the point of calving and to limit the reduction in feed intake that typically occurs in fresh cows. Equally important is controlling energy intake at a level optimal for maintenance through the metabolic changes the cow is experiencing. Stress is another factor to watch for as it could add to the inflammatory response and ultimately effect glucose metabolism. Excessive inflammation utilizes nutrients that would otherwise be used for milk production.

If you can keep the diet consistent and provide cows adequate bunk space and stall space in your facilities, it becomes a simple process.

Optimize Energy Intake for Milk Production

When it comes to nutrient partitioning, maintenance is the primary need, followed by milk production. If a cow is in a negative energy balance, she will utilize fat stores to produce a high volume of milk, sacrificing body condition and future reproductive success, resulting in a shorter time in the herd.

A cow only has a definitive amount of fat stores, so if that cow burns through those quickly and dry matter intake is suboptimal, then she will not be able to maintain a high level of milk production because there is insufficient energy to drive it. If feed intake is optimized and body condition score loss is minimized, it may result in lower peak milk production, but total production throughout lactation will be more consistent.

The key nutrient for cows in the early lactation period is energy, more specifically glucose, primarily from starch and highly digestible forages. Balance is critical here, too much starch can increase the risk of acidosis, causing inflammation in the body. For the best results, dairy producers should incrementally increase their cows’ non-fiber carbohydrate (NFC) levels from the close-up diet to the high-production diet to allow the rumen to adjust.

It’s also important to limit the amount of fat you’re feeding post-fresh cows. Feeding too much fat in the early post-fresh period reduces the ability of the liver to produce glucose, further increasing the negative energy balance.

Improve Energy Status Now to Improve Reproduction Later On

Maintaining a healthy body condition and optimizing feed intake during the transition period does not only affect milk production, but also reproduction during the next breeding cycle.

A cow in severe glucose deficiency or compromised body condition sacrifices quality of the oocyte developing in the ovaries. As a result, cows in an extreme negative energy balance will have a reduced chance of getting pregnant on time — or at all — during the subsequent lactation. A successful transition avoids these problems but for those cows that have issues, the voluntary waiting period can help.

This voluntary waiting period — the period of time between calving and when dairy producers start inseminating cows — can last anywhere from 50 to 70 days. It is important to divide transition cows into two groups: those that are facing challenges and those that are not. Cows that are facing challenges during transition, such as losing a substantial amount of body condition, lameness or any other issues, may need to have a longer voluntary waiting period. This will give those cows time to get back to a better energy status, increasing their chances of getting pregnant.

Six Transition Cow Management Tips

Transition cow management is not rocket science, but oftentimes, producers struggle to get it right. These six transition cow management tips can help maximize milk production and improve reproductive success:

1. Provide adequate bunk space and don’t overcrowd. You need at least 30 in (76 cm) of bunk space per cow to optimize feed and energy intake. If you’re using lockups or headlocks, remember that cows in a group will only ever occupy 80% of the available standard size headlocks. So, ensure you have more headlocks than cows. Another option is to install 30-35 in (76-90 cm) center headlocks which account for the larger size of a pregnant cow.
2. Where possible, utilize “just-in-time” management protocols. This involves walking cows every hour and, as soon as you see a cow start going into labor, moving her into the maternity pen. If the cows are in stalls and you can’t walk the cows every hour, I suggest moving her into the maternity pen no less than 2 days or more than 7 days before calving. If you move her between 2 and 7 days prior to calving it is going to depress dry matter intake prematurely before calving.
3. Maintain social stability. When you move cows between groups, this causes stress. The best option, of course, is to have what we call an all-in all-out system or sequential fill system which creates socially stable groups during transition. A group of cows due to calve during the same week are put into a pen no less that 21 days before calving. Then they stay in that pen all the way through calving. This provides social stability by not introducing new cows in the pen. A stable pen tends to have a very positive effect on dry matter intake and reduced stress.
4. Optimize cow comfort. You need to provide transition cows with optimal comfort. You need them to lie down for as long as possible because their hooves or claw structures are very susceptible to damage at this point which can lead to inflammation and lameness during lactation.
5. Heat abatement strategies. Heat stressed transition cows are more prone to transition diseases and will produce less milk during lactation. Ensure effective cooling with fans producing a wind velocity of over 5 mph over the lying area and utilize soakers or high-pressure fog when conditions are extreme. Keeping cows cool encourages them to lie down. Cows that are experiencing heat stress will stand for longer periods in attempt to reduce body temperature. This increased stress reduces feed intake and increases the risk of lameness.
6. Manage lameness. Cows should be examined for lameness when they are moved into a transition pen. Any problems that are found should be corrected at this time. This allows you to inspect a cow and then re-inspect a month later to ensure the cow is not lame at calving. Remember to continue footbath protocols through the dry period to reduce digital dermatitis and focus on hygiene in your transition pens.

Performance Trace Minerals for Transition Cow Success

Performance trace minerals can help transition cows mount a rapid and robust inflammatory response sparing more energy and nutrients for milk production and reproduction. Performance trace minerals have also been shown to reduce the incidence of transition diseases and improve the reproductive success of both healthy and challenged transition cows. Unlike inorganic trace minerals, Zinpro Performance Minerals^® are absorbed through the amino acid transporters. This allows the minerals to avoid antagonistic interactions and reach the intestinal lining to optimize absorption and maximize a cow’s genetic potential.