Drying off high-yielding cows, with reduced risk of udder health challenges

The dry-off period is important for the cow, as she experiences drastic changes in just a few weeks and also prepares for the next lactation during this period. The dry period gives the udder tissue a chance to recover and renew so that the next lactation can start optimally. For high-yielding cows, there is a big challenge here. Generally, they are more likely to experience udder health challenges during the dry-off period which negatively affects milk production in a subsequent lactation. How can you successfully help these cows through the dry period and keep them highly productive?

Why do we dry-off high-yielding dairy cows?

Ideally, you would want to dry-off high-yielding cows as easily and as abruptly as lower yielding cows without compromising the cow’s health and milk production in the subsequent lactation. In terms of production, these are your top cows, so it is important to keep them highly productive for as long as possible. Omitting the dry-off period completely is not an option because this will result reduced milk production and increases the somatic cell count (van Knegsel, 2014). The quality of colostrum is also reduced by omitting the dry-off period. Cows without a dry-off period showed lower concentration of antibodies in colostrum than cows with a conventional dry-off period (Klusmeyer et al., 2009). Lower colostrum quality can also affect calf health. Furthermore, with extended milking there is a risk that cows will fatten up and not be persistent enough to be milked for a second lactation until calving (van Knegsel, 2014). Drying-off is therefore essential for all cows. Even though this is an extra challenging event for high-yielding cows.

The golden standard for dry-off

The dry period is necessary to allow udder tissue regeneration in order to guarantee optimal milk production in the next lactation (Capuco et al., 1997). Ideally, cows should have lower milk production at dry-off in order to:

1. Reduce the risk of leaking milk and unfavourable bacteria entering the udder.
2. Allow the keratin plug to seal the teat canal
3. Reduce udder pressure and any associated discomfort

De gouden standaard, volgens het National Mastitis Council, is het streven naar een dagelijkse melkgift van minder dan 12,5 kg bij het droogzetten wenselijk om de uiergezondheid te verbeteren. Dit is voor de meeste koeien en veehouders een uitdaging. Het niet bereiken van een lagere melkproductie bij het droogzetten kan leiden tot uitdagingen. Bij koeien met een hogere melkproductie is de kans kleiner dat er een functionele keratineplug (Fig. 1.) wordt gevormd, dit vergroot de kans op melk lekken en het binnen treden van bacteriën in het uier (Vilar en Rajala-Schultz, 2020, Dingwell et al., 2001; 2004).

Fig 1. Percentage of teats classified as open in the first six weeks of the dry period, according to the degree of milk production before the dry period (Dingwell et al., 2004).

Highly productive udders, effect on udder health and welfare

The aforementioned examples are problematic because cows with high somatic cell count (SCC) at the start of lactation are more likely to develop recurrent udder health challenges. On top of that milk production will no longer peak and generally remains low throughout the current and subsequent lactations when compared to healthy cows. This will lead to huge financial losses. Studies have shown that over 60% of new udder health challenges occur during the dry period (Todhunter et al., 1991). This indicates the importance of a good plan for high-producing cows at dry-off.

Increased udder pressure

Animal welfare brings another perspective of drying off high-yielding cows. When milking is stopped, the accumulation of milk in the udder causes discomfort, and cows with higher milk production at dry-off may experience this with greater intensity. Different studies have concluded that high-producing cows experience some level of discomfort, for several days, due to increased udder pressure after abrupt dry-off (Bertulat et al., 2013, Odesten et al., 2007). Increased udder pressure in turn leads to milk leakage and a delay in the keratin-plug formation, this forms a port of entry for bacteria (Rajala Schultz et al., 2020).

Lying important parameter for animal welfare

Changes in lying times and lying bouts can serve as signs of discomfort due to udder pressure (Chapinal et al., 2014). Milk production on the day before dry-off was negatively associated with lying time on the day after abrupt cessation of milking and regrouping in primiparous cows (Chapinal et al., 2014). A reduction in lying time immediately after dry-off was found in primiparous cows, and an increase in the frequency of shorter lying bouts was noted in both primiparous and multiparous cows (Chapinal et al., 2014). Also Rajala Schultz et al. (2018) and Zobel et al. (2013) observed that cows with high milk yield during drying-off had shortened lying bouts and shorter daily lying time after dry-off than lower producing animals.

Given that lying is a high-priority behaviour in dairy cattle, these results suggest that the welfare of cows may be compromised around the routine on-farm practice of abrupt milk cessation and regrouping at dry-off, particularly after their first lactation.

A new approach

At AHV, we have a new innovative dry-off product suitable for highly productive cows. Resolute Liquid is a unique Dry-off facilitator that improves health, management and welfare at dry-off.

We monitored the effect of AHV Resolute on animal welfare by observing lying behaviour. The trial consisted of a control group and Resolute group. The animals were monitored for lying behaviour the first two days after abrupt dry-off. The outcome (Table 1) shows a clear difference in lying duration between the groups. In total, the Resolute group lies for  1.5h more than the control group on the first day after abrupt dry-off and 0.5h more on day two. Based on previous studies, this allows us to assume that AHV Resolute has a positive effect on cow welfare after abrupt dry-off.

The product is safe and 1 dose is sufficient, regardless of weight and milk production of the cow. By reducing udder pressure and udder engorgement in high yielding cows we reduce discomfort and stress, positively influencing animal welfare.

Sources:

• Bertulat, S., Fischer-Tenhagen, C., Suthar, V., Möstl, E., Isaka, N., & Heuwieser, W. (2013). Measurement of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites and evaluation of udder characteristics to estimate stress after sudden dry-off in dairy cows with different milk yields. Journal of Dairy Science, 96(6), 3774-3787.
• Capuco, A. V., Akers, R. M., & Smith, J. J. (1997). Mammary growth in Holstein cows during the dry period: Quantification of nucleic acids and histology. Journal of dairy science, 80(3), 477-487.
• Chapinal, N., Zobel, G., Painter, K., & Leslie, K. E. (2014). Changes in lying behavior after abrupt cessation of milking and regrouping at dry-off in freestall-housed cows: A case study. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 9(6), 364-369.
• Dingwell, R. T., Kelton, D. F., Leslie, K. E., & Edge, V. L. (2001, February). Deciding to dry-off: does level of production matter. In National Mastitis Council Annual Meeting Proceedings (pp. 69-79). Madison, WI, USA: National Mastitis Council, Inc.
• Dingwell, R., Leslie, K. E., Schukken, Y. H., Sargeant, J. M., Timms, L. L., Duffield, T. F., … & Conklin, J. (2004). Association of cow and quarter-level factors at drying-off with new intramammary infections during the dry period. Preventive veterinary medicine, 63(1-2), 75-89.
• Klusmeyer, T. H., Fitzgerald, A. C., Fabellar, A. C., Ballam, J. M., Cady, R. A., & Vicini, J. L. (2009). Effect of recombinant bovine somatotropin and a shortened or no dry period on the performance of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 92(11), 5503-5511.
• Odensten, M. O., Berglund, B., Waller, K. P., & Holtenius, K. (2007). Metabolism and udder health at dry-off in cows of different breeds and production levels. Journal of Dairy Science, 90(3), 1417-1428.
• Van Knegsel, A. T. M. (2014). WHYDRY; Verkorten van de droogstand van melkvee: effecten op de melkproductie, energiebalans en koe-en kalfgezondheid. Wageningen University, leerstoelgroep Adaptatiefysiologie.
• Vilar, M. J., & Rajala-Schultz, P. J. (2020). Dry-off and dairy cow udder health and welfare: Effects of different milk cessation methods. The Veterinary Journal, 262, 105503.
• Vilar, M. J., & Rajala-Schultz, P. J. (2020). Dry-off and dairy cow udder health and welfare: Effects of different milk cessation methods. The Veterinary Journal, 262, 105503.
• Zobel, G., Leslie, K., Weary, D. M., & Von Keyserlingk, M. A. G. (2013). Gradual cessation of milking reduces milk leakage and motivation to be milked in dairy cows at dry-off. Journal of Dairy Science, 96(8), 5064-5071.