The transition from the dry period to lactation has an enormous impact on dairy cows. During this period, cows go through three physiological adaptations: immune adaptation, digestive adaptation and metabolic adaptation to support the next lactation and pregnancy. Getting through this transition without excess stress is crucial for a healthy lactation.
Poor metabolic and digestive adaptation during the transition period results in metabolic stress, which impairs the adaptation of the immune system and increases the incidence of metabolic diseases that drive:
Good management of the transition period, along with a well balanced diet, will increase a cow’s lifetime daily yield and number of lactations by improving fertility, increasing milk yield per lactation and reducing involuntary culling. Not only will this improve a farm’s financial performance, but also result in sustainable milk production, now and in the future.
