Transition Cow Health

Feeding Zeolite A for Milk Fever Prevention in Dairy Cattle

Milk fever (hypocalcemia) is a common disorder than can occur is cows following calving.  During this time, the demand for calcium in the body is high to support mammary function and milk production.  When a cow is unable to meet these demands, she can develop milk fever.

Healthy Cows: Management Tips for Transition Times

Fresh cow diseases such as ketosis, milk fever, displaced abomasum, retained placenta, metritis, and mastitis have a huge impact on the overall health of an animal. In addition to the health of the animal there are other factors including lost milk production, longer days to cycle and get pregnant, plus the cost to treat these fresh cow diseases.

Fresh cows: Milk fever

Even though hypocalcemia, commonly known as milk fever, has been a fresh cow problem for years, it has been addressed through nutritional management during the dry period and early lactation to decrease clinical cases to less than 1%. However, 73% of 3rd and greater lactation animals have had subclinical hypocalcemia.

The Fresh Cow: Ketosis

Clinical and subclinical ketosis are the most common metabolic disorder in high-producing dairy cows, costing up to $289 per case. According to the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, 93% of ketosis cases occur between 5 and 30 days post-calving.

Fresh cows: Finding the “off” cow

Fresh cows are the most important, and most vulnerable, group of cows in the barn. The first few weeks post-calving is the highest risk period for several diseases. Most infections, diseases, and/or metabolic disorders, such as milk fever, ketosis, retained placentas, metritis, mastitis, and displaced abomasums, or DAs, occur during this time.

Fresh cows:  Finding the sick cow

Fresh cows have the greatest production potential in a dairy, but they are very susceptible to disease. The post-calving period is a critical time in a cow’s life for its well-being and performance. Fresh cow metabolic disorders can hinder lactation and subsequent reproductive efficiency.

Managing transition cows on the smaller farm

Why is it that dairy farms in my area are averaging under the Wisconsin average of 24,884 pounds of milk per cow?  This question got me asking questions to some farmers and agri-service providers.  One piece of the puzzle that emerged is that we may need to be paying closer attention to transition cows in our smaller herds.  Care of the transition cow is not a new concept, but management strategies for the smaller farm may be overlooked when recommendations are shared.