Nutrition and GI: Feeding the Dry and Transition Cow

Question 1

How long the dry period and lactation period?

Answer 1

Dry- 60 days
Lactation- 305-340

Question 2

What happens during the dry period (physiologically)?

Answer 2

• Foetal growth
• Mammary tissue remodelling
• High nutritional demands

Question 3

What is the dry period aim?

Answer 3

Enable cows to transition from pregnancy to lactation with minimal issues whilst achieving genetic potential for milk yield

Question 4

Why are there huge nutritional demands at the end of the dry period and start of lactation?

Answer 4

• Foetal development
• Mammary development
• Milk production

Question 5

What are the changing demands of periparturient cow?

Answer 5

• Energy demand for lactation
• Primarily for glucose- lactose precursor
• NEB- rely on other gluconeogenic substrates

Question 6

What does obesity in dry cows lead to?

Answer 6

Fat mobilisation syndreom in early lactation
* Fatt liver
* Bovine type II diabetes

Decreased DMI in dry period
Decreased DMI in early lactation
* Increased weight loss in early lactation
* reduced milk yield

Question 7

What is type II diabetes in dry cows?

Answer 7

• Dry cows overfed- energy stored in viscera/liver

As fat accumulated- liver function compromised:
* Increased NEFAs
* Reduced response to insulin- increased production
* Increased inflammatory responses in liver- proinflammatory cytokines from adipose tissue

Question 8

What breeds have high amounts of visceral ‘hidden’ fat?

Answer 8

Channel islands
Holsteins a bit

Beef not- friesian not

Question 9

Why does nutrition in the dry period potentially increase the risk of periparturient disease?

Answer 9

• Chronic disturbance of metabolic homeostasis leads to pro-inflammatory cytokines cytokines from adipose tissue during mobilisation
• Cytokines promote higher basal metabolic rate- reduce appetite
• Activate immune system- excessive predisposes to diseases

Question 10

What BCS should be maintained for dry period?

Answer 10

3
over 3.5 too fat
< 2.5 too thin

Question 11

What is the traditional diet strategy for dry cows?

Answer 11

5 weeks- low energy/high fibre (far off)
last 3 weeks- transition diet (close to group)

Question 12

1. What is the DMI in the early dry period?
2. What is the M/D?
3. How much fibre?

Answer 12

1. 10-14kg
2. 7.5-8.5
3. High fibre for rumen health

Question 13

In the early dry period with DMI of 10-14kg what are the forage options?

Answer 13

• Grass silage and straw (4-5kg)
• Big bale silage
• Hay
• Grass- limited intake

Question 14

What is the M/D of transitioning diet cows?

Answer 14

9.5-10

Crude protein- 13-15%

Question 15

What are the options for transition diets?

Answer 15

• Custom made
• High yielder TMR with straw/hay
• Silage and straw and dry cow concentrate- high Mg low Ca

Question 16

What is the new keenan diet strategy for dry cows?

Answer 16

• One diet for whole period
• Low energy- goldilocks
• 8-8.5 M/D
• Chopped straw

Reduced social stresses- no moves

Question 17

What are dry cow feeding recommendations?

Answer 17

• Commence at drying off
• Adopt one ration for whole period
• Provide low energy/ high fibre ration
• May require some additional protein
• Straw needs to be coarse
• Supply as TMR and feed ad lib

Question 18

How should dry cows be managed?

Answer 18

• Stop milking
• Teat sealant/dry cow tube
• Move to dry cow group
• Move to calving pen in early second stage labour

Housing
* Comfort
* Adequate feed space- 90cm

Question 19

How is total energy requirements worked out?

Answer 19

Maintenance- 60MJ
Production- litres x5