The Healthy Dairy Cow

Good article about Health Management Practices for Dry Dairy Cows; may be helpful to all advisors.

Very interesting article!
We would suggest some modifications to the recommended feed program because of the incidence these practices have on the dairy cows health.

Quote :

The standard recommendation has been to withdraw concentrates from the cows ration for about one week (too short, 2 to 4 weeks would be preferable, especially for protein concentrates while the production period ends and the milk production naturally slows down) and then abruptly stop milking.

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In late pregnancy the enlarging uterus occupies more of the abdominal cavity. This reduces the rumens capacity for feed. Late pregnancy cows have a limited DMI of about 2% of body weight (BW) daily. At this time a good roughage base must be established. Preferably this should consist of about 12 kg of corn silage (This is way too much!) and free choice hay. Lactating cow grain ration can then be gradually increased to 4-5 kg/day (Much too rich in protein. This will sometimes kill the cow!) by calving day. Lead feeding of grain ration starting 2 weeks prior to calving helps to avoid digestive upsets resulting from abrupt changes from pre- to post-calving rations.

After calving, increase grain gradually (maximum 1 kg/day) as production increases and appetite increases. Increase the protein supplement first to stimulate milk production and the grain ration second(Please inverse this proposal because the liver will be surcharged and acetonemia will result 3 to 6 weeks after calving). During lactation the concentrate to roughage ratio on a dry matter basis should not exceed 60:40. Feeding programs and total mixed rations (TMR) which exceed this ratio run the risk of predisposing cows to abomasal displacement, laminitis and off-feed problems (THIS IS A BRILLANT OBSERVATION).


Dry cows should be offered cobalt iodized salt at the rate of 30-40 grams/day. Excess sodium which comes from salt can cause udder edema in dry and springing cows (and also an excess of protein).

My comments in ().

Clement Doyer, Labo Solidago, Canada

Good Article about health practices for Dry Dairy Cows !

a very good article on health management practices for dry period in dairy cows. one side there is threat of milk fever because of low body conditioning score and on the other side the problem of ketosis if high energy diet is given on early lactation. by giving lesser dietery calcium in last leg of dry period is very good way of activating body system to release calcium from bone to blood.importance of grain feeding in close up week of dry period are very practcal suggestions. Thank you for such fine tuing of feeding practices.

Dr. Zahid Rafique

Good and informative Article for dairy profit, If we followed golden rules of this articles we minimize our expenses, culling, mortality %.