Dry Cow Nutrition and Management

1
Dry Cow Nutrition and Management
2
Phase Feeding

• Phase 1 Far off dry cows
• Phase 2 Close up dry cows (transition phase)
• Phase 3 Fresh cow (transition phase)
• Phase 4 Peak milk cows (set lactation curve)
• Phase 5 Peak dry matter cows (persistency)
• Phase 6 Tail end cow (least profitable)

3
Phases

• Far-off
• 60 to 21 days before calving
• Phase 1
• Traditional dry cow period
• Close-up
• 21 days to freshening
• Phase 2
• Periparturient 3 days before to 7 days after
  calving
• Transition phase21 days pre-partum to 21 days
  post-partum

4
Early Dry Cow Goals

• Allow the mammary gland to recover
• Adjust/control body weight (3.25)
• Build the immune system
• Provide nutrients for the unborn calf
• Allow feet and legs to recover
• Minimize metabolic disorder risks
• Keep pregnant heifers growing while meeting dry
  cow needs

5
Length - 45 to 60 days

• Less than 40 days results in incomplete
  involution and regeneration of the mammary gland
• Over 70 days results in less milk due to
  metabolic disorders and less income
• Longer 60 to 80 days, target young cows, high
  milk yielding cows, short calving interval
• Shorter 40 to 45 days, older cows, low milk
  yield, long calving interval
• No dry days 25 to 33 percent less milk
• Short dry period new concept, cows gt 2nd
  lactation, 40 days, more income

6
Far Off Dry Activities

• Involution of mammary gland (reduces secretory
  tissue, less DNA content)
• Shift to lower energy diet to maintain body
  weight
• May allow feet and legs to recover on dirt or
  pasture conditions
• Maintain exercise (moving water sources away from
  feed sources
• Vaccinations for colostrum milk antibodies and
  coliform mastitis

7
Feeding the Far Off Dry Cow

• Time Dry off to 21 days prepartum
• Forage based ration with 11.3 Kg corn silage (as
  fed basis) and 0.5 to 2.3 Kg of straw (low energy
  diet approach from Illinois)
• Long grass or legume forage (RFV gt 130) with no
  mold
• 0.9 to 2.3 Kg of grain (depending on forage
  quality and BCS)
• Top quality trace mineral and vitamin program

8
Control metabolic disorder Blood calcium
Mobilized blood fat (NEFA) Shift rumen
bacteria Build the immune system Maintain
dry matter intake
Close Up Dry Cow Goals
9
Close Up Dry Cow Activities

• Mammary epithelial regeneration (bagging up,
  increase secretary tissue, and hormonally
  controlled)
• Shift diet to transition to lactation
• Control blood calcium
• Minimize non-esterified fatty acid increase
  (NEFA) an indication of weight loss
• Cow comfort, space, and bunk/feeding area

10
Feeding Close Up Dry Cows

• Time 21 days before calving
• Dry matter intake gt 11.3 Kg
• Feed 2.3 to 3.1 Kg of long forage DM (can be
  straw), 9-11 Kg of corn silage, and 0.9 to 3.1 Kg
  of close-up cow grain mix
• Feed 4.5 to 5.4 Kg DM from high group TMR and
  dry cow forage (straw or low potassium hay plus
  close up grain mix)

11
Close Up Dry Cow Grain Mix

• 0.9 to 3.2 Kilograms of grain
• Increase rumen undegraded protein
• Anionic salts (milk fever and blood calcium)
• Yeast culture (stabilize rumen)
• Replace 1/3 inorganic trace minerals with
  organic trace minerals (immune system)
• Increase vitamin E to 2500 IU per cow
• Consider propylene glycol or calcium propionate
  (glucose precursor)
• Add rumen protected niacin (ketosis control)

12
Periparturient Period

• Reduction in feed intake (10 to 30 percent)
  leading to fat deposition in the liver
• Immunosuppression (white blood cells are less
  effective in killing (phagocytosis) bacteria
• Hypocalcemia (blood calcium levels below 8 mg/dl)
• Calving problems (dystocia, cows give up)
• Uterine contractions reduced (not clean)
• Less smooth muscle contractions in the digestive
  tract (lower feed intake)

13
Role of Immunity

• Hormonal changes around parturition can lead to
  immunosuppressive
• Other stressors
• Heat (reduce blood flow internally)
• Lower nutrient intake
• Disease exposure
• Comfort
• Highest incidence of mastitis
• Edema reduces blood flow
• Colostrum milk remains in the udder

14
Drying Off Guidelines

• Level of milk lt 22 Kg
• Reduce feed intake, especially concentrate
• Long acting intra-mammary antibiotic for to
  prevent or treat mastitis
• Continue teat dipping
• DO NOT LIMIT WATER INTAKE

15
Environmental Factors

• Photoperiod Short-days (8 h light 16 h dark)
  leads to increased milk production (long-days
  during lactation).
• Heat stress Exacerbates decrease in dry matter
  intake and shifts blood flow
• Hormonal changes affect milk production and
  immune function.
• Cow comfort and feed bunk space (30 inches)

16
Body Condition Score

• Optimal for cows is 3.0 to 3.5
• Optimal for heifers is 3.0 to 3.25
• Heavy cows should not lose body weight nor gain
  additional weight
• Thin cows below 2.75, add 1/2 BCS (60 lb)
• Above 2.75, maintain current BCS (thin cows milk
  less, but they do not die)

17
New Dry Cow Concepts

• Short dry period45 days
• Milk for an extra 20-25 days _at_ 30 Kg
• Only 2nd lactation cows
• One less pen move
• High straws diets for the entire dry period
• 30 of the ration dry matter (7 to 11 lb)
• Stimulate dry matter intake (calorie theory)
• Reduce fat mobilization during the transition
  period

18
Transition Period3 Weeks Before to 3 Weeks
After Calving

• The most critical 6 wk of lactation cycle
• Determines profit for entire lactation!
• Nutrition or management may limit peak milk yield
• Health problems may limit milk, add costs, force
  culling

19
Signs of Inadequate Transition Management

• High incidence of metabolic disorders
• Poor appetites, low dry matter intakes
• Acidosis problems
• Rapid loss of BCS 1st mo post-calving
• Poor conception rate

20
Metabolic Disorder Risks

• Metabolic disorders Goals
• Milk fever lt 4
• Ketosis lt 3
• DA lt 3
• Retained placenta lt 5

21
Milk feverD.A.Retained placentaKetosisLameness
Cost of Metabolic Disorders
334 340 285 145 122
22
Illinois Data--DMI
23
Milk Production
24
The ability to observe and manage the fresh cow
in a group environment
Fresh Cow Principle
25
Step up nutrient intake Stabilize rumen
Optimize D.M. intake Observe the cow Set the
lactation profile
Goals Fresh Cows
26
Fresh Cow Limitations

• Lower feed intake if challenged
• Injured more if competition exists
• Less likely to compete at feeding stations
• Fatigue quicker (weaker hind limb)
• Dominant cows in heat will pick on fresh and
  smaller cows more

27
180 grams of sodium bicarbonate 12 grams
niacin 20-140 g yeast culture 150 g calcium
propionate Direct fed microbials (DFM or
probiotics)
Fresh Cow Additives
28
Dr. Mike Hutjens Ration

• 2.2 Kg of quality hay (RFV gt 150) fed outside
  the TMR (yes, not mixed in)
• 2.2 Kg of the fresh cow cocktail mix
• Digestible fiber
• Trace mineral and vitamin E
• Additives (bicarb, niacin, calcium
  propionate,yeast culture)
• Remaining intake is high group TMR

29
Time 1st lact 2nd lact
--------kg/cow/day------------Week 1
14.1 16.6Week 2 15.9
19.3Week 3 17.3 21.1Week 4
18.2 22.3 Week 5 18.9
23.9
Dry Matter Intake
30
Stresses on Transition Cows

• Metabolic stress (unavoidable)
• Heat stress
• Overcrowding
• Infectious challenge
• Sub-optimal grouping and movement
• Social dominance
• Uncomfortable housing
• Rough handling

31
Impacts of Stresses on Transition Cows

• Decrease DMI
• Divert nutrients to immune function
• Reduces milk production
• Interfere with lactogenic hormones
• Increase body fat mobilization
• Disrupts of normal metabolic shifts and
  adaptations to lactation

32
Fundamental Management and Nutrition Practices
For A Good Transition Cow Program

• Put the close up cows on a specific ration to
  build the immune system and maintain feed intake
• Reduce any stress (space, bunk area, heat stress,
  or disease challenges)
• Control metabolic disorders
• Stimulate feed intake after calving
• Avoid excessive weight loss (over 1kg per day)
• Minimizing moving cows frequently
• Develop a fresh cow ration