Dairy Production
MANAGEMENT OF DRY COWS
A good dry cow management
programme is essential if the milking
cow is to reach her potential in the
next lactation.
The body condition score (BCS) that
the cow carries into the dry cow
period and the amount of weight that
the cow gains or loses when she is
dry has a significant bearing on
subsequent milk yield, herd health
and fertility.
In an ideal world our aim must be to
dry the cow off in the BCS we would
like to calve her down, that is a BCS
of 3.0 to 3.25 on a scale of 1 to 5.
The reason for this is two fold and
simple. Firstly a lactating cow is
more efficient at putting extra feed in
to live weight gain compared to a dry
cow.
Secondly due to the hormonal
balance difference between a
lactating and a dry cow, the lactating
cow tends to put on a higher
proportion of this live weight gain in
the form of muscle. A dry cow tends
to put on condition in the form of fat.
All dairy cows tend to lose weight in
early lactation by drawing on her
body reserves to meet the extra
demands for milk production. Weight
taking off in the form of muscle is
converted more efficiently into milk
compared to weight taking off in the
form of body fat.
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The build up of ketone bodies also
has a real negative effect on fertility
as it depresses the pulse release of
luteinizing hormone (LH) which is an
essential hormone in ensuring that a
viable ovarian follicle is produced.
Invariably what happens is that as
cows lose weight we get poor or no
release of LH and as a result we get
delayed or depressed signs of heat
in the cows.
Therefore, the amount of weight that
a cow loses in early lactation has a
huge bearing on subsequent fertility
rates. The negative effects of this
weight
loss
has
been
well
documented to the point that a cow
losing between 0 to 0.5 of a body
condition score from calving to first
service has a 65% chance of
conceiving. A cow losing between
0.5 to 1.0 of a body condition score
from calving to first service has a
53% chance of conceiving and a cow
losing greater than 1.0 of a body
condition score from calving to first
service has a 17% chance of
conceiving. One BCS in terms of
weight loss or weight gain equates to
35 to 45 Kg of live weight.
There is a fine balance between the
timing and the type of live weight
gain, the amount of weight loss in
early lactation and subsequent
production and fertility rates in the
dairy cow.
Drying Off Cows
As body fat reserves are broken
down, ketone bodies are produced.
The production of high levels of
ketones predisposes the cow to
ketosis and subsequently milk fever.
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Crossbred cows continue to give
milk even at advanced stage of
pregnancy if they are not forced to
dry. Drying a cow becomes very
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Dairy Production
College of Natural Resources
important aspect. A minimum of 60 –
70 days dry period must be practiced.
When the cow is seven months
pregnant it must be dried off.
It is generally considered that a cow
should remain dry for a period before
calving, for the following reasons:
 To rest the
secretion
organs
of
milk
 To permit the nutrients in the feed
to be used in developing the
foetus instead of producing milk.
 To enable the cow to replenish in
her body the stores of minerals
which have become depleted
through milk production.
1.
Dairymen who follow this system do
not extract all the milk from the udder
at milking time for the first few days
after the drying off period has begun.
Later they milk intermittently but
never
completely.
After
the
production decreases to only a few
litres daily, milking is stopped.
2.
Whatever the nutrients lost must be
compensated during dry period.
Better yield is obtained by drying the
animal. Practical experience has
shown that cows denied of a dry
period will give less milk in the
following lactation than
those
allowed a period of rest.
Methods of Drying. Three methods
of drying off a cow are in use.
 Incomplete milking
 Intermittent milking and
 Complete cessation
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Intermittent milking
Under this procedure, the cow which
is to be dried off, will be milked once
a day for a while, then once in every
next day, and finally milking will be
stopped altogether.
3.
 If dry period is not sufficient the
growth of the calf is affected. A
milking cow is thin because its
nutrients have been extracted
along with milk.
Incomplete milking:
Complete cessation.
A study in an experiment showed
that complete cessation of milking
can be recommended safely with
cows producing as much as 10 litres
of milk per day. Cows were dried off
in less time with this method than
with other two methods and no
significant differences were noted in
the quantity and quality of the milk in
the following lactation. In drying the
cow by this method, udder fills until
there develops pressure great
enough to stop secretion in the
udder. This method is applied to
cows producing 10 litres of milk per
day. After secretion is stopped, the
milk is gradually reabsorbed from the
glands until it becomes dry. The cow
should not be milked during the
reabsorption period as this educes
the pressure within the gland and
secretion is again initiated resulting
in the prolonged period of drying off.
If the cow is producing more than 10
litres of milk daily or if she is
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College of Natural Resources
persistent in milk flow, it may be
advisable to restrict feed and water
for a few days. Removal of all feed
except some poor quality hay and
50% reduction in water will result in
quite a drop in milk out put. (Stop the
feed for a few days or reduce the
feed and water. Reduce concentrate
by 50% and water by 50% and only
give roughage).
Care of Dry Cows
Length of Dry Period
Mastitis Prevention
The goal of a dry period is to attain a
balance between the gains in
production and profit from extending
the current lactation without any
losses in production and profit in the
following lactation as a result of
fewer days dry.
Dry cow intramammary antibiotic
treatment is necessary to prevent
new udder infections in the early dry
period. It also eliminates sub-clinical
infections
persisting
from
the
previous lactation. Selection of an
infusion product should be based on
your veterinarian's advice as well as
the antibiotic sensitivity patterns for
known mastitis agents in the herd.
The optimum length of the dry period
may vary from one cow to another.
General recommendations are that a
45 – 60 day dry period is associated
with highest lactation yield. Dry
periods less than 45 days and
greater than 60 days results in less
production in the next lactation.
Short dry periods do not allow for
adequate udder involution, and long
dry periods tend to result in overconditioned dry cows. The end result
in both cases is less milk in the next
lactation. The estimated economic
loss in income is $3.00 per cow per
day for every day less than 45 and
for every day greater than 60. A
practical goal is to have 70 – 80% of
all dry periods between 40 to 70
days.
Early Dry Period
The early dry period comprises the
first 4-5 weeks after drying off.
During this period attention should
be given to mastitis prevention,
vitamin supplementation and body
condition.
Two standard recommendations
should be noted. Immediately after
the last milking, infuse all 4 quarters
of each cow with the appropriate
intramammary slow release antibiotic
preparation.
Before
treatment,
prepare teat ends aseptically with
teat dip and alcohol swabs. This
prevents
environmental mastitis
bacteria from being accidentally
introduced into the teat on the
infusion cannula.
Vitamin Supplementation
Cows in late pregnancy have a high
requirement for vitamins A, D, E and
selenium.
Vitamin A is known to prevent
premature, weak and stillborn calves
and retained placenta. Providing
Prepared by Tshewang Dorji
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Dairy Production
vitamin A orally in a commercial dry
cow premix (100,000 IU/day) or by
intramuscular injection at drying-off
prevents any deficiencies.
Vitamin
E
and
selenium
supplementation are necessary to
enhance the body defenses to
protect the cow from challenge by
infectious agents. Recommended
levels for confined Holstein cows in
areas of known selenium deficiency
are vitamin E, 1000 IU/day and
selenium, 3 mg/day during the dry
period.(2) This is best administered
by inclusion in the ration.
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Cows gain condition most efficiently
during late lactation. Ideally cows at
dry-off time should have a body
score of 3.5-4. No weight loss or
gain in condition should occur during
the dry period unless needed. Dry
cow rations should be evaluated and
balanced to meet daily protein and
Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN)
requirements. National Research
Council 1989 recommends 1.35 kg
crude protein and 6.3 kg TDN daily
for a 700 kg dry cow.
Close-up Dry Cows
Dry cow rations should be evaluated
and balanced to provide correct
amounts of vitamins A, D, E and
selenium.
The close-up dry period comprises
the 2 to 3 weeks prior to calving.
During this time lead feeding, milk
fever prevention and maternity
facilities must be emphasized.
Body Condition
Lead Feeding
Early lactation cows have a high
energy
requirement
for
milk
production and reproduction. They
also have a reduced dry matter
intake (DMI) for the first 60 to 70
days in milk. During this period they
must utilize stored body fat as a
source of reserve energy.
In late pregnancy the enlarging
uterus occupies more of the
abdominal cavity. This reduces the
rumen's 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 and free choice hay.
Lactating cow grain ration can then
be gradually increased to 4-5 kg/day
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.
Body condition scores indicate the
amount of stored energy available to
the cow. In early lactation one kg of
body fat provides the energy needed
for 7 kg of milk. Lactating cows will
utilize about 1 kg of stored fat daily in
order
to
meet
their
energy
requirements. If cows utilize more
than 1 kg/day especially in the first
14 days in milk, fatty degeneration of
the liver is excessive. As a result
ketosis may occur and the interval to
conception will be prolonged.
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After
calving,
increase
grain
gradually (maximum 1 kg/day) as
production increases and appetite
increases. Increase the protein
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Dairy Production
supplement first to stimulate milk
production and the grain ration
second.
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.
Introducing close-up dry cows to a
lactating cow TMR is a form of lead
feeding. If possible, the dry cows
should receive a low calcium TMR
formulated for low production cows
for no longer than 5 days before
calving. A longer introductory period
could predispose mature cows to
milk fever.
Milk Fever Prevention
Calcium
A dairy cow's requirement for blood
calcium increases suddenly with the
onset of calving and during early
lactation. When calcium levels in
blood are too low, cows may develop
milk fever at calving time. In addition,
their appetite and muscle tone will be
poor during the first two weeks of
lactation.
Good
muscle
tone
improves the function of the
digestive tract and also assists the
involution of the uterus. Good
appetite increases DMI and milk
production and helps to prevent
ketosis.
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College of Natural Resources
A cow in early lactation milking 40
litres/day requires about 56 grams of
blood level calcium daily from her
diet and bone storage reserves.
A cow's DMI is limited during early
lactation. Therefore, it is difficult for
the cow to obtain enough calcium
from the diet to meet requirements.
For optimum health and performance,
dairy cows need to draw on reserve
calcium which is stored in their
bones.
If the cow is stimulated to release
reserve calcium from bone, 10-15
grams daily is available. This
amounts to 20-25% of the daily
requirement for blood level calcium.
However, it takes about 14 days to
condition a release of stored calcium
into the blood from bone. It is
essential to start this conditioning at
least two weeks before calving by
feeding close-up dry cows less than
100 grams of dietary calcium/day (70
grams/day for small breeds). This
feeding strategy stimulates the cow
to begin mobilizing reserve calcium
prior to calving.
Calcium Removal from Bone in Early
Lactation. The 10-15 g of reserve
calcium available in early lactation is
especially important because it is cell
level calcium. A fresh cow needs 56
g of cell level calcium per day for 40
kg milk production.
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Dairy Production
College of Natural Resources
magnesium. The following levels are
recommended:
calcium
0.39%,
phosphorous
0.24%,
and
magnesium 0.23% in the total diet.
Free choice mineral feeding may
result in mineral imbalance. As an
example, excess phosphorous may
interfere with Vitamin D metabolism
and cause milk fever. Minerals
should be fed in measured amounts
daily.
Udder Oedema Prevention
The addition of anionic salts to the
close-up dry cow grain ration will
also stimulate the release of reserve
calcium from bone. Ammonium
chloride and magnesium sulphate
are examples of anionic salts. Most
feed companies have a dry cow
supplement containing anionic salts.
However,
anionic
salts
are
somewhat unpalatable, so they must
be thoroughly mixed with grain or a
TMR and the dose divided into 2
daily feedings. Anionic salts should
not be fed for more than 3 to 4
weeks.
Magnesium
A high incidence of milk fever has
been reported in dairy herds with an
insufficient supply of magnesium
during the dry period. Cows deficient
in magnesium had low rates of
calcium mobilization compared to
cows which received sufficient
magnesium. Milk fever prevention
includes balancing dry cow rations
for calcium, phosphorous and
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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
oedema in dry and springing cows.
Maternity Pens
Maternity pens should be clean,
comfortable and provide good
footing. Third lactation and older
cows are most susceptible to milk
fever and related post-calving
complications such as retained
placenta, slow uterine involution,
poor appetite, and ketosis. Placing
dry cows in a maternity pen or
calving paddock for two weeks
before calving is a good way to
control the diet to prevent metabolic
problems. If a cow develops milk
fever in a clean comfortable
maternity pen, complications such as
mastitis and muscle damage are less
likely to occur and treatment will be
easier.
Calving facilities must be dry and
clean to prevent infectious diseases
such as mastitis, retained placenta,
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Dairy Production
College of Natural Resources
infection of the uterus and calf
scours.
Summary
The
dry
procedures
intended to:
cow
management
described here are
 Prevent and eliminate mastitis by
proper drying-off procedure, dry
cow treatment and clean dry
comfortable housing.
 Strengthen the cows' immune
systems and body defences by
ration
balancing
and
supplementation of vitamins A, D,
E and selenium.
 Ensure sufficient body condition
to provide reserve energy to meet
requirements for milk production
and
reproduction
in
early
lactation.
 Prevent digestive upsets and
displaced abomasums by proper
forage feeding and lead feeding
grain to the closeup dry cows.
 Prevent milk fever by restricting
dietary calcium for the last 2 to 3
weeks of the dry period and/or
feeding anionic salts to stimulate
the release of stored calcium
from bone at calving time.
 Stimulate
and
maintain
aggressive appetite during the
dry period and early lactation to
ensure maximum DMI, good
rumen-fill, normal utilization of
should not be disturbed when in
labour). The heifer with her first calf
Prepared by Tshewang Dorji
stored fat and high milk
production.
 Prevent udder oedema by proper
sodium intake and exercise.
 Prevent calving injury, retained
placenta, infection of the uterus,
mastitis and calf scours by
providing a clean dry maternity
pen with good footing.
The dry cow may be allowed to run
with the regular herd. When close to
calving time, the cow should be
isolated from the remainder of the
herd. This can be done in a clean,
well-bedded stall. By using the
breeding record and gestation chart,
the herdsman can know about when
to expect the cow to calve. There are
of course variations from the
average. As cow nears calving time
the udder will fill up and the teats
become distended. There will be
swelling in the udder and it usually
begins at the bottom and moves
upwards. By calving time, this
swelling will extend upwards. Other
indications are relaxing of the
muscles around the tail head and the
pin bones (Under the influence of the
oestrogen the ligaments on the tail
head get relaxed), and teats become
turgid. The cow usually shows
restlessness and in a field will seek
out an isolated place.
The majority of the cows will not
need any help while calving.
However, occasionally they do need
help. An alert herdsman will keep an
eye on the cow but not disturb her
unless she shows evidence of
needing help or delays calving too
long after labour begins. (The cow
is slower in calving than old cow.
Immediately after calving the cow will
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Dairy Production
be thirsty from loss of fluids and she
should be allowed to drink a quantity
of warm water and bran mash. When
afterbirth is passed it should be
removed from the stall. In the wild
state of nature the cow consumed
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the afterbirth. The reason for this
instinct is that in wild state with poor
nutrition, the cow may have needed
the nutrients in the afterbirth. There
is no evidence to prove that the
modern cow needs to consume the
afterbirth.
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