Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Value; How a proactive approach to transition delivers greater return on investment

Margins in dairy farming are tightening and the sector is under the microscope in terms of sustainability. What can you do as a dairy farmer to balance financial viability with sustainable production practices? According to Marco Hoekstra, Product Manager at AHV, it is essential to make the cow last as long as possible. “The key to this lies in the transition,” he says.

Dairy farmers are investing more time in prevention

As International Product Manager for ruminants at Animal Health Vision, Marco Hoekstra has spent the past few years taking a close look at dairy farming in various countries around the world. One of the things that strikes him is the difference in structure between dairy farms in the United States, for example, and countries like The Netherlands and the UK and Ireland.

“In the United States, you have big farms with many employees. There, a lot is geared towards preventing animal health problems and reducing disruption as much as possible. 

In dairy farming in The Netherlands and the UK & Ireland, where farms are getting bigger and bigger nowadays, you are starting to see this structured way of working more and more. 

Dairy farmers are investing more time in prevention, to spend less time on animals with health problems and the related yield losses,” says Hoekstra.

Maintaining good animal health is essential to minimise our carbon footprint.

A proactive approach to animal health delivers higher returns, better animal welfare and more work satisfaction in the short term. But Hoekstra sees that the real gains are found in the long term.

“If a cow encounters an excessive negative energy balance during the transition period, the liver deteriorates and is never going to function optimally again. Once a cow goes through this, she’s three times more likely to face the same issue in subsequent lactations. This often leads to early culling. While there might be a new heifer ready on the farm, it would have been more profitable if the cow had completed another lactation. On average, it takes a cow two and a half lactations to break even. From then on she really starts making money. Every extra lactation means extra revenue.” 

But it’s not just about financial benefits. Hoekstra also emphasises other reasons for promoting longevity. “From a sustainability perspective, we want to demonstrate that by taking good care of our animals and ensuring they last as long as possible, we minimise our carbon footprint. Maintaining good animal health is essential.”

Managing the transition period well can make your life much easier

The transition period is absolutely critical for dairy cows. If a cow comes out of the dry period smoothly and navigates the first 60 days of lactation without any issues, she’ll be easier to manage throughout the rest of lactation. However, for many farms in The Netherlands and UK, this is quite a challenge.

Hoekstra understands this well. “It’s not easy to optimally feed all the cows. Most farms are too small to create specific production groups for the dry and lactation periods. So, we rely on a standard ration and adjust with concentrate feed where needed. As a result, cows often use up their reserves at the start of lactation and end up consuming too much energy toward the end, leading to excessive fattening. This results in a significant negative energy balance, which can cause liver damage and lower immunity. Subsequently, issues like udder and claw problems are more likely to arise. Dealing with these problems means extra work and stress. Managing the transition period well can make your life much easier.”

Calcium and phosphorus crucial for proper muscle function

Hoekstra notes that, on average, 30 to 40 percent of dairy cows experience subclinical calcium and phosphorus deficiency around calving. On some farms, this figure rises to as high as 60 percent.

Unnoticed, this deficiency serves as a precursor to typical transition problems. “Calcium and phosphorus are crucial for proper muscle function. The placenta needs to detach smoothly, and the uterus should clean easily. An invasion of harmful bacteria after calving drains immune cells. Plus, all the energy the cow expends on fighting this battle cannot be used for milk production, which directly impacts profits. Good rumen function is essential for digestion. Essentially, the rumen is a large muscle. If it doesn’t work properly, feed isn’t digested efficiently.”

You’ll reap the benefits during lactation

According to Hoekstra, a new lactation begins at dry-off. “During the dry period, three things are crucial. Firstly, the diet should closely resemble the lactation diet, but with lower energy content. For instance, if you typically feed maize, you can exclude it during dry-off. However, it’s important to realise that it will take four to six weeks after calving for a cow to digest maize optimally again.

Secondly, it’s vital that cows have ample space to move freely during the dry period. They should have enough room to stay active. Additionally, it’s important for cows to be able to find a quiet spot and maintain contact with their herd mates. This helps facilitate calving, and you’ll reap the benefits during lactation.”

Ultimately the cow has to it herself and we can support this

To ensure the cow takes in enough nutrients like calcium and phosphorus after calving, it’s crucial for her to start eating again quickly and for her rumen to work efficiently. Offering additional calcium and phosphorus is important here. 

In response to the increasing need for pre-calving nutrients, AHV has developed the Booster Tablet. This tablet can be given two to three weeks before calving. It’s a complementary feed in bolus form that stimulates the cow’s appetite and makes her rumen more efficient, helping her to absorb more energy from her diet.

For the right mineral and energy support after calving, Hoekstra advises dairy farmers to use StartLac Paste or StartLac Tablet. These products provide the cow with rapidly available calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Thanks to the calcium pidolate and active vitamin D3 in the StartLac products, the minerals are better absorbed from the diet. This reduces the risk of milk fever and subclinical calcium deficiency, among other issues

The energy-rich paste can be administered once immediately after calving, while the Tablet is given immediately after calving and repeated after 12 to 24 hours. “Livestock farmers who use these products are very enthusiastic about them. We often hear that the cows eat much faster after calving, and that’s exactly what we want. The cow has to do it herself, and we can support this.” 

To provide the cow with even more support immediately after calving, Hoekstra advises dairy farmers to also use the Aspi Tablet and the Metri Tablet. The Aspi helps a cow feel better and boosts her immune system, while the Metri stimulates the contraction of the uterus, making the placenta come off easier and helping the cow clean up better. “But it all starts at the beginning of the dry period. If a cow can transition well to calving and the start of lactation, she’ll get through the first 60 days more easily. Plus, you have a better chance of a more vital calf, who also benefits from a good transition period.”

Summary: Proactive AHV Transition and Uterine Health & Fertility Protocol

• AHV Booster Tablet; 14 days before calving
• AHV Metri Tablet; Immediately after calving
• AHV StartLac; Immediately after calving
• AHV Aspi Tablet; Immediately after calving
• AHV Booster Tablet; 7 days after calving

If you would like more information on how you can sustainably support your herds health and productivity long term, please fill in the contact form below or contact your local AHV Consultant directly.