The recommended dry period for cows is 60 days, with 42 days a minimum requirement. During this time, the cow replenishes reserves lost during lactation, regenerates udder tissue in preparation for the next lactation, while also supporting the developing foetus.
Dry cows need to be fed with a target of reaching a body condition score (BCS) of 3 to 3.25 at calving time. At drying off, most herds will have some thin cows (with BCS less than 2.75) and some over-conditioned cows (BCS greater than 3.25) with the majority of the herd around target (BCS 2.75 to 3.25). Ideally these groups should be segregated now for targeted feeding.
Some cows that are under pressure (first-calvers, lame cows, cows that have had twins or are in-calf with twins, thin cows, etc) will all benefit from a longer dry period, with good-quality silage and 1kg to 2kg of meal.
The over-conditioned cows should have a low-energy diet up until the last three to four weeks of pregnancy in an attempt to reduce their BCS. This can be achieved with the inclusion of 2kg to 4kg of straw in the diet.
Over-conditioned cows at calving will suffer from severe negative energy balance in early lactation, with increased likelihood of suffering from production diseases, poor fertility and poor production.
It is important that all cows are offered good-quality silage with meal in the weeks immediately prior to calving to encourage appetite and to ensure the rumen is ready to adapt to the lactation diet. Pre-calver minerals must also be fed at appropriate levels to all cows.
Cows that calve at the target BCS will have:
Less production diseases – milk fever, displaced abomasums, ketosis, fatty liver, lameness.Fewer difficult calvings, uterine infections and retained placentas.Better production – yield and solids.Better fertility – quicker resumption of cycles, better conception and pregnancy rates.Kevin O’Sullivan works at Glasslyn Veterinary Clinics, Glasslyn Rd, Bandon, Co Cork, part of XLVets. For more information, see www.xlvets.ie.
The recommended dry period for cows is 60 days, with 42 days a minimum requirement. During this time, the cow replenishes reserves lost during lactation, regenerates udder tissue in preparation for the next lactation, while also supporting the developing foetus.
Dry cows need to be fed with a target of reaching a body condition score (BCS) of 3 to 3.25 at calving time. At drying off, most herds will have some thin cows (with BCS less than 2.75) and some over-conditioned cows (BCS greater than 3.25) with the majority of the herd around target (BCS 2.75 to 3.25). Ideally these groups should be segregated now for targeted feeding.
Some cows that are under pressure (first-calvers, lame cows, cows that have had twins or are in-calf with twins, thin cows, etc) will all benefit from a longer dry period, with good-quality silage and 1kg to 2kg of meal.
The over-conditioned cows should have a low-energy diet up until the last three to four weeks of pregnancy in an attempt to reduce their BCS. This can be achieved with the inclusion of 2kg to 4kg of straw in the diet.
Over-conditioned cows at calving will suffer from severe negative energy balance in early lactation, with increased likelihood of suffering from production diseases, poor fertility and poor production.
It is important that all cows are offered good-quality silage with meal in the weeks immediately prior to calving to encourage appetite and to ensure the rumen is ready to adapt to the lactation diet. Pre-calver minerals must also be fed at appropriate levels to all cows.
Cows that calve at the target BCS will have:
Less production diseases – milk fever, displaced abomasums, ketosis, fatty liver, lameness.Fewer difficult calvings, uterine infections and retained placentas.Better production – yield and solids.Better fertility – quicker resumption of cycles, better conception and pregnancy rates.Kevin O’Sullivan works at Glasslyn Veterinary Clinics, Glasslyn Rd, Bandon, Co Cork, part of XLVets. For more information, see www.xlvets.ie.
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: