What Does Current Research Tell Us About Transition Cow Management?

The transition period begins 21 days pre-freshening and ends 21 days post-freshening. This period is arguably the most challenging time in a cow's life and the most important as it influences her upcoming lactation. Both the ration and farm management protocols are essential in preventing issues during this time. During the transition period, a cow's nutritional requirements change rapidly, creating a metabolic challenge. A cow's immune system is suppressed during this time, meaning there is an increased risk of disease.

A Journal of Dairy Science article (Kerwin et al., 2022) focused on 72 New York and Vermont dairy farms. These farms milked 400 or more Holsteins, and all farms housed cows in freestall barns. This study allowed researchers to compare transition period management strategies between farms instead of focusing on a controlled research setting. These researchers recorded facility design parameters for far-off dry, close-up dry, and fresh cow housing. They also collected health, reproductive, and milk yield data from farm managers and drew blood to examine various health metabolites. Many findings from this study support commonly researched transition cow management strategies.

This study found that feed bunk space was a significant management factor during the close-up dry and fresh periods. If a dairy has headlocks at the feed bunk, current recommendations state that stocking density should be 85% or less in transition pens (Jones et al., 2017). If a dairy has a neck rail instead of headlocks, each cow should have at least 2.5 feet available to eat at any time (Jones et al., 2017). Providing adequate space at the feed bunk reduces social pressures and encourages dry matter intake during a time when this is especially important.

Not only did this study show that feed bunk space is essential for transition period success, but it also emphasized the importance of feed bunk management. When dairies fed cows more than once a day and pushed up feed more than three times per day, cows had better health markers (NEFA and BHB) levels in their blood work and decreased disease incidences.  Increasing feed pushups and feedings can encourage dry matter intake and reduce the sorting of the ration, helping cows stay healthy during the transition period.

The current study also observed that pen moves at any time during the transition period induced stress and should be minimized as much as possible. It takes cows two to five days to adjust to a new social hierarchy when they are moved to a new pen. So, every time a cow is moved during the transition period, this could lead to decreased dry matter intake and decreased resting time for two to five days after the move, putting her at risk for health disorders. This study also indicated that first calf heifers and mature cows should not be comingled during this time as this may also induce stress. Spending excessive time locked in headlocks could also cause stress during the transition period. Many dairies lock fresh cows in daily to perform a health check, and this study supported the current recommendation that they should not be locked in for more than an hour per day (Nordlund, 2009).

The researchers reported that a calving pen was more beneficial than a maternity pen during calving. This study defined a maternity pen as a pen where a cow was moved three days before her due date and a calving pen as a pen where she was moved when showing signs of calving. If using calving pens, cows should be kept there for 8 hours or less. A calving pen may be favored over a maternity pen to reduce stressful social interactions. When utilizing maternity pens, cows undergo another pen change that introduces them to a new social hierarchy. When using calving pens correctly and cows are kept there for a short time, this can prevent the stress of a new social group. In addition, cows should be vaccinated during the close-up or far-off dry period and should not be vaccinated while in the maternity or calving pens.

This study serves as a reminder of many good management practices during the transition period. Farm owners and herd managers should strive to reduce stress and increase dry matter intake for heifers and cows during the transition period to promote good health and a successful upcoming lactation. They can do this by providing adequate feed bunk space, reducing pen moves, and using a calving pen instead of a maternity pen.

References:

Jones, G. A., and D. W. Kammel. 2017. Transition cow barn design and management. Large Dairy Herd Management, 3^rd ed. American Dairy Science Association.

Kerwin, A. L., W. S. Burhans, D. V. Nydam, and T. R. Overton. 2022. Transition cow nutrition and management strategies of dairy herds in the northeastern United States: Part III-Associations of management and dietary factors with analytes, health, milk yield, and reproduction. J. Dairy Sci. 106.

Nordlund, K. V. 2009. The five key factors in transition cow management of freestall dairy herds. Pages 27-32 in Florida Dairy Prod. Conf., Gainesville, FL. University of Florida.