Non-Nutritional Factors for Transition Cow Success
When it comes to managing dry cows and ensuring a successful transition into the milking herd, good nutrition plays a huge part. Minimising transition diseases, such as milk fever, can be achieved by ensuring cows are at the target body condition score at drying off and calving, and providing adequate nutrition with the correct mineral balance during the dry period.
However, there are many non-nutritional factors that are just as important to ensure the health and performance of the cow and calf over the calving period. Based on research by the University of Wisconsin, the Transition Cow Index (TCI) was developed to assess early lactation performance based on actual and predicted milk yield (in cows from second lactation and above). The study also evaluated various management and housing factors that could impact early lactation milk yield and the top five factors for transition success were:
- Sufficient feed space
- Good cow comfort with appropriately sized cubicles
- Soft bedded cubicle surfaces
- Minimal social stress
- Effective post-calving checks
Interestingly ration formulation was not in the top five!
Feed Space
Sufficient feed space is critically important, both for dry cows and fresh cows. Cows are herd animals and like to eat together. If they can’t all eat together, those that eat later, eat less. A minimum 75cm of feed space per cow is recommended but up to 1m is much better to maximise intakes, rumen fill scores and allow cows to feed simultaneously. If feed space is lacking, usually the heifers will suffer the most. A feed barrier with self-locking yokes, should have no more than 80% occupancy (i.e. 8 cows for every 10 yokes).
Cow Comfort
Poor cow comfort can significantly impact on health, milk production and overall well-being. Signs of poor cow comfort in cubicle housing include lameness, poor lying times and hock lesions. The cow comfort Index refers to the percentage of cows in contact with a cubicle that are lying down, and the target should be 85% or more.
While the TCI was developed in the USA, where many herds house dry cows on cubicles, and then move them to a calving pen at the point of calving, cubicle comfort for dry cows, even if only in the far-off period should not be underestimated. When it comes to straw bedded courts for dry cows, a good rule of thumb is to provide each animal with 1.25m2 per 1000 litres of milk production. This rule helps ensure sufficient space at the feed fence, plenty of lying space for less dominant animals and space to find a quiet area to calve, if separate calving pens are not available.
As we have been through a warm spell this summer, we cannot talk about good dry cow management without mentioning heat stress. There are consequences of heat stress in late gestation, with calves born to heat stress mothers tending to have lower birth weights and a poorer ability to absorb colostral antibodies. This highlights the importance of good ventilation and even the use of fans to keep dry cows cool during the warmer months.
Social Stress
Cows (and heifers) can go through many housing, dietary and social changes after they are dried off, with several group changes in a relatively short space of time. Mixing unfamiliar animals, and especially if combined with limited feed space and overstocking, can lead to a lower dry matter intake, impaired immunity with risk of calving in with a high somatic cell count and lower milk production.
It is very difficult for dry cow groups to achieve social stability as animals are regularly entering and leaving the group, with the pecking order having to be re-established each time. Move animals in pairs or small groups and aim to move once a week. This is especially important for heifers, and they should ideally be moved into the far-off group at least six weeks before calving. Avoid moving animals into a new group close to feeding time. Ideally move them later in the day (if fed out in the morning). A high proportion of consumption takes place two hours after feeding. Later in the day, activity in the pen will be lower, with less competition for feed, lying and water trough space.
Post-Calving Checks
Early detection of health issues post-calving is critical for treatment to aid quick recovery and minimise the impact it could have on milk production and fertility. Freshly calved cows should be monitored to assess their demeanour, willingness to get up and feed and milk yield for the first five days. After calving, examine quarters carefully for signs of mastitis. If there is any cause for concern, a rectal temperature should be taken. The normal temperature of a cow is between 38.3 and 39.5˚C (101-103˚F). A temperature over 39.5˚C could indicate an infection or inflammation problem. Also, check for uterine infection, as just over one third of cows may have an infection but not show obvious discharge.
Top five tips for transition cow success:
- Ensure optimal dry cow nutrition and get the ration checked when there is a change of forage.
- Don’t overstock facilities if possible. Feed space and lying space are critical!
- Think about cow comfort, cubicle size and use and keep cows well bedded.
- Minimise social stress by moving cows in pairs (or more) into a new group, move once a week and introduce later in the day (long after peak feeding time).
- Closely monitor cows post-calving for signs of poor health and milk yield. A separate heifer milking group is highly recommended if space allows.
It is often said that “The most expensive thing on a dairy is an empty stall.” However, Dr. Ken Nordlund who helped develop the TCI disputes that statement, saying “The most expensive thing on a dairy is a prefresh stall that is always full.”
Lorna Macpherson, Senior Dairy Consultant, Lorna.Macpherson@sac.co.uk
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Posted by Unearthed News on 19/08/2025
