The dry cow

Question 1

How long is the dry period?

Answer 1

60 days

Question 2

How long is the lactation period?

Answer 2

305-340 days

Question 3

The dry period in cows has been considered a resting phase between lactations…….is it?

Answer 3

Considerable foetal growth, mammary tissue remodelling and high nutritional demands occur

Question 4

What is the transition period?

Answer 4

The period from 3 weeks before to 3 weeks after calving

Question 5

What are the main demands of a cow during the dry period?

Answer 5

Pregnant – foetal growth occurring and got to give birth
Produce milk – lots of mammary tissue remodelling
Become pregnant again within a given time period

Question 6

At which point of the cows yearly cycle is the most neglected?

Answer 6

The dry period

Question 7

What is the aim of management in the dry period?

Answer 7

Enable cows (and heifers) to transition from pregnancy to lactation with minimal issues whilst achieving their genetic potential for milk yield

Question 8

How does intake change towards the end of the dry period?

Answer 8

DMI decreases and most cows are entering a period of NEB

Question 9

What is the physiological adaptation of mammals when in a negative energy balance?

Answer 9

Mobilise body reserves

Question 10

How do the demands of the cow change in the peri-parturient period?

Answer 10

Huge demand for energy (glucose primarily)

Question 11

How is glucose involved in milk production?

Answer 11

Glucose is the precursor of lactose – dictates milk volume via osmosis

Question 12

Which tissue is the main reserve of energy used in a NEB?

Answer 12

Adipose tissue

Question 13

Describe the syndrome associated with fat that can occur in early lactation

Answer 13

Fat mobilisation syndrome
‘fatty liver’
‘bovine type 2 diabetes’

Question 14

In obese dairy cows where does fat accumulate? What are the issues with this?

Answer 14

In the liver - function compromised
- Increased non-esterised fatty acids
- Reduced response to insulin, increased insulin production

Question 15

Which of the following cows has more subcutaneous fat than visceral fat?
- beef cow
- Frisian
- Holstein
- channel island

Answer 15

Beef cow
Frisian

Question 16

How is a negative energy balance linked to the immune response?

Answer 16

• 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.

Question 17

How can the immune response be controlled during a NEB in the dry period?

Answer 17

Monitor body condition

Question 18

What are the risks with being too fat in the dry period?

Answer 18

Predisposes to:
- increased dystocia, RFMs
- increased risk of milk fever
- greater weight loss and poorer fertility
- ketosis
- displaced abomasum
- greater immune suppression

Question 19

What are the risks with being too thin in the dry period?

Answer 19

Predisposes cows to:
- increased risk of RFMs
- poorer fertility
- increased lameness
- reduced production

Question 20

A condition score of … = fit

Answer 20

Less than 3

Question 21

A condition score of … = obese

Answer 21

More than 3

Question 22

What are the consequences of overfeeding in the dry period?

Answer 22

• Little increase in condition score
• Major increase in visceral fat
• Decreased immune function
• “Risk factor for “metabolic syndrome”

Question 23

What should the DMI be in the early dry period?

Answer 23

10-14kg

Question 24

Why must energy intake be controlled in the early dry period?

Answer 24

Excessive energy at this time will suppress DMI and produce visceral fat deposition
- Suppress appetite
- Predispose to metabolic disease in lactation

Question 25

What are the feed options for the early dry period?

Answer 25

- Grass silage + straw (4 – 5 Kg straw) - Big bale silage - Hay - Grass (limited) with straw supply

Question 26

How do the diet requirements change when in a transition diet compared to the early dry period?

Answer 26

- DMI declining - Energy requirements increasing

Question 27

What are the energy requirements (MJ/day) for a cow on a transition diet?

Answer 27

110-130MJ/day

Question 28

What are the diet options for the transition diet?

Answer 28

- Custom made - High yielder TMR diet diluted with straw/hay. - Silage & straw & dry cow concentrate

Question 29

Describe the Keenan diet as a new strategy for dry cow feeding

Answer 29

- One diet for the whole dry period - Low energy - Chopped straw essential - Adequate feed space – cows must eat a lot - Reduces social stress

Question 30

List some dry cow feeding reccomendations

Answer 30

- 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

Question 31

Describe drying off a cow

Answer 31

- Stop milking - Teat sealant/ dry cow tube - Sterile - Move to dry cow group

Question 32

When should cows be moved to a calving pen?

Answer 32

When in second stage labour

Question 33

How should cows be housed in the dry period?

Answer 33

- COMFORT - Loose yards - space - 1.3sq metre/1000 litres - 10,000l herd - 13 sq metres - Large luxury cubicles (sand bed) - Adequate feed barrier space

Question 34

Define a physiological imbalance as a result of cows being unable to adapt to lactation

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Define a physiological imbalance as a result of cows being unable to adapt to lactation

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Define a successful transition

Answer 36

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.