In years gone by, the dry period for dairy cows was seen as an inconsequential part of the production cycle. Times have changed.
Dairy scientists now have a more thorough understanding of the connection between dry off, the dry period and subsequent close-up period, to the point where it is deemed critical to the success of the following lactation.
Consequences of poor management through the dry period rear their head in the form of metabolic issues, namely milk fever and ketosis around calving. Treating clinical cases masks the huge underlying production loss that occurs within a herd.
As a rule of thumb, for every one clinical down cow, there are seven to ten subclinical cases you’re not seeing. Research has shown that a 14% production loss affects clinically affected cows and at 7:1 subclinical cases, each subclinical case will cost 7% in production loss.
Take the following scenario as an example of these losses:
A 300-cow farm with 10 cases of milk fever and 5 cases of ketosis, producing 500 kgMS/year/cow, at a $10/kgMS payout, will cost around $47,000 in losses.
The key message: prevention and managing a dairy cow properly through the dry period will set her up for a successful lactation period. So how can that be achieved?
Let’s break it down.
Dry off
Drying off is a physiological stress event. If done badly, stress will lead to inflammation in the cow which is a key instigator of the immune response and metabolic upset.
What to do:
- Attempt to continue a standard lactation diet right up to her last milking.
- Reduce protein on the day of dry off and the two days following.
- Aim to keep cows full and calm — use hay or straw as a fibre source.
- Maintain mineral support — calcium and magnesium will support teat closure. Selenium, zinc and copper support immune function.
Dry period feeding
Most dry cow issues don’t come from neglect but simply from unintended stress.
What to do:
- Dry, dusty, crowded paddocks should be avoided.
- Feed for two — remember this is the third trimester. Aim for 120 MJ/day energy (minimum), with 12% protein (minimum).
- Keep the rumen ticking — avoid long gaps without feed.
- Continue to provide adequate nutrient and nutritional support – these should be targeted, not just blocks or licks sold by your consultant.
- Avoid feeds that are possibly heavy in mycotoxins — this includes poor-quality silage or rank crops.
The close-up period
The 3-week window before and after calving is the most critical metabolic window. Cows must be primed to kick start lactation, but a lot is happening at that time. They shift from dry to lactating, physically give birth, the rumen must expand, the uterus contract and energy demand skyrockets.
How to navigate this period;
- Be mindful of adapting rumen bugs to the lactation diet. This means trying to mimic the lactation diet, in smaller, balanced quantities.
- If lucky enough to have grass, limit it — grass generally contains too much potassium, nitrogen and not enough energy.
- Feed good quality hay or straw daily. Minimum 2kgDM/cow/day, but ideally more – this will improve calcium metabolism and rumen function.
- Supplement magnesium (we can suggest the best combination).
- Provide vitamin A + D, and key trace elements: Se, Zn, Co.
- Consult our team to balance anionic salts and how these should be incorporated.
- Introduce the energy-dense feed she’ll get in the shed (with high starch and buffer support). Energy is vital in this period where a lot is being asked of the cow.
The pay off when dry cow and transition management are dialled in:
- You cut treatment time of down cows.
- You lift reproductive performance.
- You get cows hitting peak milk faster — and staying there.
- You reduce stress — for both yourself, and the cow.
This period can feel like a bit of a moving target. Other milking mobs, weather, feed supply, decisions and staffing. But with the right support, it’s manageable.
We’re here to help simplify the process — with plans and support that work.
Talk to your local Reid’s dairy specialist today about the benefits of our mash and the products we can offer to suit your requirements on 1300 REID FEED or enquire here >
Author
Henry Shand
BVSc
Key Account Manager
