Managing the Transition Cow - The Critical 4 Week Window
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The transition period; that is the time around 1 week before calving, up to 3 weeks after, is a key period during which the productive and reproductive performance of the cow during the coming season is determined.
If the calving cow experiences metabolic problems – ketosis, milk fever; is unable to rapidly increase her appetite or develops mastitis, her ability to milk throughout the season and reproduce will be severely compromised. Ultimately, her life in the herd will be shortened with the associated loss in genetic potential and high cost of replacement.
If you properly manage the dry cow phase by maintaining body condition scores and having the rumen fully functioning to accommodate the increase in feed intake post calving, the cow should be well set up to enter the crucial 48hrs of calving; however the stress of calving, the need to produce colostrum and the sudden energy demands of lactation are still key events that can tip an animal over into a metabolic crisis. If the animal hasn’t had a good dry period, such as this year with the drought, the chances of problems occurring are very high.
Ketosis, diagnosed by elevated ketones in the blood, milk or urine and the smell of nail polish on the cow’s breath, is also characterized by low blood glucose levels. In addition to the build up of ketone bodies, fatty acids begin to accumulate in the liver as triglycerides, affecting liver functions such as the production of glucose. To prevent ketosis, the energy intake of the cow must not be allowed to fall and as soon as possible following calving, she must be encouraged to eat to appetite. To maintain the energy intake, high energy balanced diets should be made available. Energy drenches of MPG and molasses within 12 hours of calving will stimulate the appetite, lift blood glucose, lift insulin levels and reduce fatty acid blood levels. The protected or by-pass fat found in Starter Plus is also available for direct use by muscle and other body tissue as an energy source other than blood glucose, further reducing pressure on the liver.
Milk fever is often seen in the higher producing or older cows. The sudden demand for calcium at calving, whilst the calcium supply mechanism is still winding up and getting into gear, can often result in either clinical or sub-clinical hypocalcaemia The use of calcium supplements to boost blood levels during this start-up phase should be routine as soluble calcium sources, as found in Starter “Plus”, will boost blood calcium for around 6 – 10 hours after dosing.
Whilst the use of energy drenches may be of limited benefit to animals that are on a good plane of nutrition and have been well transitioned into the calving phase, they will be of great help in those herds where the metabolic status is uncertain and particularly in herds that have been under stress with the summer drought. The other ingredients in Starter Plus – Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, chromium and magnesium, will also help in situations where there may be unknown subclinical deficiencies which would limit the ability of the herd to perform to its maximum.
References:
“Managing the Transition / Fresh Cow”. Jesse P. Goff. Proceedings of the 5th Western Dairy Management Conference 2001 Las Vegas.
“New Developments in Dairy Cattle Nutrition”. Willie Smith. Meadow Feeds. Randburg SA.
“Influence of transition cow nutrition on health and reproduction of dairy cows". Jose Eduardo P. Santos 41st Annual University of Nottingham Feed Conference 2007.
“Acetonaemia (Ketosis) of dairy cows”.George Miller. Ellinbank 1998
