Key Technical Points for Feeding and Management of Dairy Cows in the Transition Period

Transition-period dairy cows are those within 15 days before and after calving. At this time, the incidence of disease in cows is higher than in both mid and late lactation. According to statistics, 70-80% of deaths among adult cows occur during this period. Feeding and management at this stage should center on the health care of both the cow and the calf, in order to prevent disease.

Feeding and Management of Cows Before Calving

Before calving, the cow's reproductive organs are most susceptible to infection by pathogens. To reduce pathogen infection, cows should be moved into the calving pen 7-14 days before calving. The calving pen must first be disinfected by spraying with 2% caustic soda water, then spread with clean, dry bedding straw, and a routine disinfection system should be established. Cows should also undergo sanitary treatment before entering the calving pen: the hindquarters and vulva should be washed with 2-3% Lysol solution and then dried with a towel.

Before calving, cows should be fed mainly high-quality hay, with concentrates gradually increased. For clinically weak cows, feeding may be appropriately increased; for overfat cows, the amount fed may be appropriately reduced. For cows 7 days before calving, more concentrate may be fed as appropriate, and the amount should also be gradually increased, with the maximum amount not exceeding 1% of the cow's body weight, which helps the cow adapt to the changes of heavy milking and feed intake after calving. For cows with severe udder edema before calving, it is not advisable to feed too much concentrate. Within 2-3 days before calving, the bran content in the concentrate may be appropriately increased to prevent constipation in the cow. Under normal circumstances, the concentrate-to-roughage ratio of the diet is 39:61.