The dry cow Flashcards
How long is the dry period?
60 days
How long is the lactation period?
305-340 days
The dry period in cows has been considered a resting phase between lactations…….is it?
Considerable foetal growth, mammary tissue remodelling and high nutritional demands occur
What is the transition period?
The period from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after calving
What are the main demands of a cow during the dry period?
Pregnant – foetal growth occurring and got to give birth
Produce milk – lots of mammary tissue remodelling
Become pregnant again within a given time period
At which point of the cows yearly cycle is the most neglected?
The dry period
What is the aim of management in the dry period?
Enable cows (and heifers) to transition from pregnancy to lactation with minimal issues whilst achieving their genetic potential for milk yield
How does intake change towards the end of the dry period?
DMI decreases and most cows are entering a period of NEB
What is the physiological adaptation of mammals when in a negative energy balance?
Mobilise body reserves
How do the demands of the cow change in the peri-parturient period?
Huge demand for energy (glucose primarily)
How is glucose involved in milk production?
Glucose is the precursor of lactose – dictates milk volume via osmosis
Which tissue is the main reserve of energy used in a NEB?
Adipose tissue
Describe the syndrome associated with fat that can occur in early lactation
Fat mobilisation syndrome
‘fatty liver’
‘bovine type 2 diabetes’
In obese dairy cows where does fat accumulate? What are the issues with this?
In the liver - function compromised
- Increased non-esterised fatty acids
- Reduced response to insulin, increased insulin production
Which of the following cows has more subcutaneous fat than visceral fat?
- beef cow
- Frisian
- Holstein
- channel island
Beef cow
Frisian
How is a negative energy balance linked to the immune response?
- Chronic disturbance of metabolic homeostasis leads to pro-inflammatory cytokines released from adipose tissue during mobilisation
- These cytokines promote a higher basal metabolic rate - produce fever and reduce appetite
- An activated immune response is necessary at this time to protect the cow but excessive stimulation predisposes to some of the diseases seen in this period.
How can the immune response be controlled during a NEB in the dry period?
Monitor body condition
What are the risks with being too fat in the dry period?
Predisposes to:
- increased dystocia, RFMs
- increased risk of milk fever
- greater weight loss and poorer fertility
- ketosis
- displaced abomasum
- greater immune suppression
What are the risks with being too thin in the dry period?
Predisposes cows to:
- increased risk of RFMs
- poorer fertility
- increased lameness
- reduced production
A condition score of … = fit
Less than 3
A condition score of … = obese
More than 3
What are the consequences of overfeeding in the dry period?
- Little increase in condition score
- Major increase in visceral fat
- Decreased immune function
- “Risk factor for “metabolic syndrome”
What should the DMI be in the early dry period?
10-14kg
Why must energy intake be controlled in the early dry period?
Excessive energy at this time will suppress DMI and produce visceral fat deposition
- Suppress appetite
- Predispose to metabolic disease in lactation
What are the feed options for the early dry period?
- Grass silage + straw (4 – 5 Kg straw)
- Big bale silage
- Hay
- Grass (limited) with straw supply
How do the diet requirements change when in a transition diet compared to the early dry period?
- DMI declining
- Energy requirements increasing
What are the energy requirements (MJ/day) for a cow on a transition diet?
110-130MJ/day
What are the diet options for the transition diet?
- Custom made
- High yielder TMR diet diluted with straw/hay.
- Silage & straw & dry cow concentrate
Describe the Keenan diet as a new strategy for dry cow feeding
- One diet for the whole dry period
- Low energy
- Chopped straw essential
- Adequate feed space – cows must eat a lot
- Reduces social stress
List some dry cow feeding reccomendations
- commence at drying off
- adopt one ratio strategy for the whole dry period
- provide a low energy, high fibre ration
- may require additional protein
- straw needs to be coarse and well chopped
- supply as total mixed ration and feed ad libitum
Describe drying off a cow
- Stop milking
- Teat sealant/ dry cow tube - Sterile
- Move to dry cow group
When should cows be moved to a calving pen?
When in second stage labour
How should cows be housed in the dry period?
- COMFORT
- Loose yards - space
- 1.3sq metre/1000 litres
- 10,000l herd - 13 sq metres
- Large luxury cubicles (sand bed)
- Adequate feed barrier space
Define a physiological imbalance as a result of cows being unable to adapt to lactation
Cows whose parameters deviate from the normal and who consequently have an increased risk of developing production diseases (clinical or subclinical) and reduced production and / or reproduction
Define a physiological imbalance as a result of cows being unable to adapt to lactation
Cows whose parameters deviate from the normal and who consequently have an increased risk of developing production diseases (clinical or subclinical) and reduced production and / or reproduction
Define a successful transition
A cow has successfully transitioned when she has reached 30 days in lactation having had no mastitis, high somatic cell count (HSCC), RFM’s, metritis, endometritis, ketosis, hypocalcaemia, a displaced abomasum, died or been culled, cystic ovarian disease or sub oestrus and reached expected milk production.
