Good dry cow management launches them into lactation. Every dairy farmer knows the weeks around calving are critical. The “transition period” (about three weeks before and after calving) is when cows face their toughest metabolic test. Feed intake drops just as energy demands rise, and the cow starts pulling on her fat reserves. Managed well, she glides through this phase and into milk production. Managed poorly, she’s at risk of ketosis, fatty liver, retained placenta, displaced abomasum, or fertility issues later on.
The way a cow is managed before calving has a huge influence on how she performs afterwards. In other words, dry cow management is the key to metabolic health.
Body condition: striking the right balance
One of the biggest risk factors is body condition. Cows that are too fat tend to mobilise excess fat, leading to liver problems. Too thin, and they don’t have enough reserves to cope with the early lactation energy gap.
Farmers should aim for a body condition score (BCS) of 3.0–3.5 at drying off and keep it consistent through the dry period. Avoid sudden swings in weight, both gains and losses can create problems later. Regular monitoring, particularly in late lactation and close-up, helps keep cows on track.
Feed intake: the central driver
If there’s one factor that underpins everything, it’s dry matter intake (DMI). Cows that keep eating before calving are far less likely to run into metabolic trouble afterwards. Every extra bite matters! Every extra Kg of daily DMI intake during the pre-calving period should translate into an extra kg per day post calving. This will lessen the energy gap and promote greater peak lactations.
That means diets need to be well-balanced and highly palatable: moderate in energy, high in quality fibre, and with adequate protein. Fresh feed pushed up regularly, and at least 75 cm of feed space per cow all help maintain intakes. Water should be clean, plentiful, and palatable. Some additives, buffers, yeasts, enzymes, can also support rumen function and help cows keep eating.
Stress and inflammation: the hidden enemies
Even healthy cows show a degree of inflammation around calving. Add in stress from overcrowding, heat, or ration changes, and it can tip the balance toward metabolic challenge and subsequent disease. Simple measures make a significant difference: clean, dry bedding, enough lying space, and avoiding overstocking.
Don’t forget heat stress; shade, water, and good airflow are just as important for dry cows as they are for milkers.
Pain relief also matters. Calving can be painful! Lameness or mastitis increase the burden. Tackling pain quickly not only improves welfare but reduces the inevitable inflammatory cascade which predisposes to poor energy management and ketosis.
Insulin resistance and fatty liver
Cows naturally become less sensitive to insulin in late pregnancy, a mechanism that spares glucose for the calf and udder. But if this resistance goes too far, fat mobilisation can spiral, leading to fatty liver and ketosis. Insulin resistance will increase as a result of excess body condition, inflammation, and stress.
Trace minerals such as chromium have been shown to help insulin function, improve feed intake, and reduce fat build-up.
Nutrition: adding an extra layer of protection
Good management always comes first, but nutrition can provide an extra line of defence. Rumen-protected choline and methionine (methyl donors) help the liver export fat more efficiently. Isoacids can boost fibre digestion and microbial growth in the rumen. Chromium supplementation supports insulin sensitivity and energy balance.
These aren’t magic bullets, but when combined with solid management, they reduce the risk of metabolic problems and help cows transition more smoothly.
Putting it into practice
The most successful farms follow a clear plan: Often two dry groups with tailored rations, comfortable housing with plenty of space and ventilation, and close monitoring of body condition and intakes. Reviewing post-calving outcomes ensures the system keeps improving.
The take-home message
Transition management is about balance; not letting cows get too fat or too thin, keeping them eating, reducing stress, and supporting liver function. Supplements can help, but only when the basics are right.
Healthier dry cows mean fewer metabolic disorders, smoother calvings, better fertility, and ultimately higher lifetime productivity. Investing in transition management really does pay dividends in the parlour.