Transition cow management means management of a cow before and after 21 days of parturition

1. Transition Cow
Management

2. Transition cow… What does it
mean ???
The three weeks before and the three weeks
after calving is an important and weak period
for the dairy cow.
Cow metabolism during this period needs to
increase dramatically, and how she copes with
this high-energy transition period will impact
how well she performs during the rest of the
lactation cycle, This is why having a good
transition cow management program is crucial
for a successful dairy operation.

3. TRANSITION PERIOD MANAGEMENT
Lowest
requirements
High forage diet
Low Rumen capacity
and 50% loss in
absorption capacity
(papillae)
Calving Stress
Depressed immune system
Acute calcium demand
Severe
drop in
DMI
Slow rise in DMI
(rumen capacity)
High concentrate diet
Highest requirements
Fat mobilization
Succesful
insemination
Production and
reproduction are
set for the next
200-280 days,
respectively.
Close-up

4. Importance
The transition cow period is critical period
to health, production and fertility.
An optimal transition program can increase
milk yield by 273 - 682kg /cow/lactation.
Dairy managers should focus on this critical
50-70 days period.

5. Goals of Transition Period
Involution of mammary gland.
Provide added nutrients to meet needs of
the conceptus (fetus).
Adjust BCS, if needed.
Stimulate the cow immunity.
Stimulate rumen microflora and rumen
papillae.
Minimize metabolic disorders.
Reduce udder edema especially in heifers.

6. Lactation Cycle Stages
Phase 1→Far off Dry Cows period ends 30
days after dry off.
Phase 2 → Close up Dry cows period starts
21 days before calving
Phase 3 → Fresh period 1 – 21 DIM.
Phase 4 → Peak milk period 14 – 90 DIM.
Phase 5 → Peak DMI period 90 – 200 DIM.
Phase 6 → Peak tail end 200 – 300 DIM.

7. Lactation Cycle Curve

8. Transition Cow Stages
 Phase 2 → Close up cow period which starts
21 days before calving
 Phase 3 → Fresh cow period which starts 1-
21 DIM

9. Phase 2 Close Up Cows
 Close up is minimum 15 days to allow mammary
gland regeneration and colostrum formation.
 Before this period we have minimum 30 days for far-
off dry period to allow complete udder involution,
buffering and resting rumen from highly concentrated
content rations.

10. Points to be Focused….
If the dry period is longer than 70 days metabolic
disorders can increase , feed cost will increase and
milk production could be reduced up to 20% .
Phase 02 should be 03 weeks long to ensure cows
will have minimum 10 days intake from close up
ration.
In case of premature calving, especially in summer
during HS, it is better to put dry cows on close up
ration for at least 30 days to ensure minimum 10
days feeding of close up ration.

11. Rumen during close up phase should be
stimulated with high energy diet to stimulate
rumen papillae elongation and dekeratinization
of papillae to increase surface area for more
absorption of VFAs.
Rumen microflora population changes and
propagation must occur as cows will receive high
energy ration after calving.
Points to be Focused….

12. Feeding of Phase 01 & 02
If optimal dry cow ration and transition
feed management occurs dry matter
intake DMI maintained and metabolic
disorders minimized.

13. KPIs for Metabolic Disorders
Milk Fever <03%
Hypocalcaemia <15 %
Primary ketosis <02 %
Retained Fetal Membrane <08 %
Displaced Abomasum <05 %

14. Feeding guidelines for Transition Cow
Item Close Up Cow ration Fresh Cow ration
Body Weight Kg 680 680
DMI Kg 10 -12 15 - 16
CP% 14 - 15 18 -19
NeL mcal/kg DM 1.4 – 1.5 1.8 – 2.2
NDF% 35 30
ADF% 25 21
NFC 34 35
Ca% 0.5 – 0.6 0.7 – 0.8
P% 0.25 – 0.3 0.4
Mg% 0.4 0.25 – 0.3
Vitamin A (IU) 85000 75000
Vitamin D (IU) 22700 21000
Vitamin E (IU) 1200 545

15. Anionic Salts
 Hypocalcaemia or low blood calcium level <8 mg/dl
causes low feed intake, RFM & DA.
 Through acidogenic ration with anionic salts reduces
hypocalcaemia during close up phase.
 Anions are negative charged mineral ions like Cl, S &
phosphate.
 Cations are positive charged mineral ions like K, Na, Ca
& Mg.

16. Cations & Anions Difference???
It is calculated by subtracting the
equivalent weight (molecular weight
divided by the ion charge) of anions from
the equivalent weight of the Cations.

17. Alkaline & Acidic Ration
 Rations higher in cations relative to anions,
called Alkaline rations and this is the normal
ration to the milking cows.
 On the other hand, rations, lower in cations
and high in anions are having a negative
electrical charge considered Acidic and used
only during close up dry period for 21 days.

18. Alkaline rations cause milk
fever while acidic rations
prevent milk fever WHY???
 Acidic rations is creating what is called the
metabolic acidosis which increases calcium
absorption from GIT, increase mobilization of
calcium from bone to blood through
stimulation of Parathormone from parathyroid
gland.

19. 1. Promote mobilization of calcium.
2. Increase Vit-D metabolites and parathyroid
function so the close up cow will respond to
sudden calcium demand at calving and in
early lactation.
Anionic salts improve blood
calcium for two reasons:

20. DCAD Calculation
 Test feed for Na , K , S , Cl using wet
chemistry analysis but not by NIR.
 DCAD equivalence is calculated by
determining the sum of Sodium + Potassium
minus the sum of Chloride + Sulphur .
 DCAD = (Na + K) – (Cl + S)
 These must be converted from % to
miliequivalent per Kg (meq/kg) of feed.

21. Factors to convert from % to
meq/kg
 Sodium (Na) 434
 Potassium (K) 256
 Chloride (Cl) 282
 Sulphur (S) 624
After finding % of these elements in rations
and multiply % x the factor to obtain meq/kg.

22. Lets do one manual DCAD
Calculation
 If a ration contains Na=0.2%, K=0.7%, Cl=0.2% &
S=0.2% then we can calculate it as the following;
 Na = 0.2 x 434 = 87
 K = 0.7 x 256 = 197
 Cl = 0.2 x 282 = 56
 S = 0.2 x 624 = 122
DCAD = (Na + K) – (Cl + S)
= (87 + 197) – (56 + 122)
= 284-178= +106 meq/Kg

23. DCAD Recommendation
Recommended DCAD in close up ration to
maintain blood calcium is:
-50 to -150 meg/kg OR -05 to -15 meq/100g
To lower DCAD , it is needed to add those
anion salts which are able to lower high
positive values rations.
We can use anion salts like MgSo4, CaCl2,
NH4Cl, Hydro Chloric Acid treated feed.

24. Recommendations for Close Up
Ration
 Restrict usage of sodium and potassium in feed
by reducing Alfalfa and stop using salt.
 Stop using buffer like Sodium Bicarbonate.
 Use forage, lower in Potassium like Corn Silage,
Rhodes grass and Wheat Straw etc.
 Balance 0.4% magnesium by using MgSO4 0r
MgCl2.
 Raise Sulphur to 0.4% by using Calcium
Sulphate or Magnesium Sulphate.

25. Recommendations for Close Up
Ration
 Raise calcium in ration to 100 g by using
Calcium Carbonate or Calcium Propionate.
 Check ration Phosphorus (40-50g) using
DCP or MCP and avoid Phosphorus over 60
grams as it interfere with Vit-D conversion
in kidney.

26. Urine pH Testing
Close up cows will show a dropped urine
pH when DCAD goals are achieved.
Cows try to correct the metabolic acidosis
by excreting Hydrogen Ions in Urine,
lowering urine pH.
In optimal DCAD feeding , urine ph = 6.0-
6.5 and till 7.0 is acceptable. (Normal pH=
>8.0)
Jersey Cows need to be between 5.5-6.0 .

27. Urine pH Testing
If urine pH is near 5.0 , kidney damage could
occur due to over acidification.
Check urine pH in several cows after 4 days of
DCAD feeding by using pH paper or pH meter.
Collect urine sample 2- 4 hours after feeding
DCAD containing ration.

28. URINE pH MEASURING
pH METER pH PAPER

29. Typical Close Up ration with
DCAD
Na = 0.2 x 434 = 87
K = 1.0 x 256 = 256
S = 0.4 x 624 = 249
Cl = 0.7 x 282 = 197
DCAD = (87 + 256) – (249 + 197)
= -103 meq/Kg or -10.3meq/100gm

30. Anion Salts are unpalatable and must be
diluted with grains or molasses etc.
Chlorine salts will drop urine pH more than
Sulphate salts.
Many commercial DCAD products are available
but with higher price in comparison with
tailored DCAD made in farm using anionic salts.

31. WHY sometimes DCAD
Failure???
If dietary calcium concentration and intake are
not increased to the recommended amount for
close up cows even if the DCAD is low or
negative.
Check NPN in ration , if ammonium Sulphate or
ammonium Chloride are used .
If ration contains high soluble proteins or RDP ,
use ammonium chloride carefully.
RDP Should not be more than 70 % of CP.

32. Avoid providing milking cows with anionic
salts and negative DCAD under any
circumstances.
After Calving switch cows to ration with a
Positive DCAD +200 to +400 meq/Kg DM basis
for higher intakes and production.

33. Early Post calving or fresh period.
After calving you will face a challenge that is
nutrient demand for colostrum and milk
production will increase and at the same time
dry matter intake will drop due to the physical
pain following parturition, uterine contraction,
muscle fatigue and the inertia happened in
smooth muscle of the rumen which affects DMI
at that time.

34. Early Post calving or fresh period.
During the early postpartum period you
need to check the parturient cows after 24
hours to ensure expelling of the placenta
and lochia.
We need to monitor those cows regularly
for the first 10 days by checking rectal
temperature every day early morning before
7 am.

35. Early Post calving or fresh period.
Normally 90% of parturient cows have
some degrees of mild uterine infection
and self cleansing mechanism for these
infections happen for 90% of this 90%
during 2 weeks (Sheldon, 2000).
After 21 DIM if purulent or mucopurulent
vaginal discharge are present, it means
you have a clinical endometritis and you
should clear the cow as early as
possible to be ready for A.I. early too
especially in Pakistan !!!.

36. Checking Fresh Cows Rectally@
14 – 21 DIM & again @ 21 – 24
DIM.

37. Checking Fresh Cows Vaginal
discharge @ 14 – 21 DIM & again
@ 21 – 24 DIM.

38. Checking BHB Keto - test for
Ketosis detection.

39. Early Post calving or fresh period
DMI is the first limiting factor in most dairy rations and
Dairy managers can try to:-
1. Increase DMI.
2. Increase energy concentration especially in fresh
period but in this case you have to consider level of
forage, NDF & ADF to maintain rumen health and
rumen microbial fermentation. Also to avoid acidosis
there is a maximum amount of grain that can be fed.
If excessive levels of fat is fed rumen function is
compromised.

40. Recommendations for
Early lactation Rations
We have to put in our consideration the following:-
 DMI is based in BW of the cow, level and
composition of the milk yield but milk yield is more
important than BW in determining DMI.
 DMI is lower in fresh cows with first lactation if it
compared with mature cows, so better to keep first
lactations in separate groups to avoid competition
of the dominant and mature cows on feed as the
mature cows are well known higher in social ranking
than first calvers.

41.  For each additional pound of DMI consumed 2 pound
milk can be supported if the ration well formulated
and nutrients content are ok.
 Feeding high level of fat >5% immediately after
calving may reduce DMI. Fresh cow to meet energy
needs it mobilizes body fat to blood as NEFA.
 Dairy cow consumes 0.9% of BW as forage neutral
fiber (NDF), so lower forage quality reduce DMI.
Recommendations for
Early lactation Rations

42.  When TMR moisture exceeds 55%, DMI can
decline 3 -5%.
 If cow is restricted from feed more than 4 hours
per day the DMI may be limited because the cow
can’t consume enough feed in the remaining time
Recommendations for
Early lactation Rations