How to achieve the best transition period for you and your cows

By Andre Rigo – Technical Service Lead AHV USA

The transition period is 60 days prior to calving, through 30 days post calving. In these 90 days, cows will undergo major changes and challenges as they dry-off, calve, and re-enter the milking herd. During this time, it is imperative that cows receive top-notch care and strong protocols are in place for the transition period. To provide the best care to transition cows, we must understand how the transition period affects production, reproduction, and overall health.

There are many factors that affect the transition period. To set cows up for success in their next lactation, cows must be properly cared for in their previous lactation. Following dry-off protocols to avoid dry-period challenges start the transition period on the right path. Many environmental factors also contribute to the success of the transition period.

Environmental factors during transition period

• Temperature control – During the transition period, cows require comfortable environments to prepare for and recover from calving. During warmer months, fans and sprinklers are encouraged to keep cows cool. The impact of warm temperatures on a pregnant cow will not only affect the cow, but the developing calf as well.
• Stocking Density – In lactation groups past 30 days in milk, the stocking density can or may be higher than in a transition cow group. It is imperative when populating a transition pen to consider the amount of bunk space, stalls, or space to lay down, and accessibility to a water trough. Bunk space is crucial, as transition cow rations provide the cows with vitamins, minerals, and energy that they need to transition smoothly.
• Bedding – When it comes to bedding, the type of bedding is far less important than providing enough clean, dry, and soft bedding for a cow to calve on.
• Pens – Throughout the transition period, cows experience pen changes. During these moves, it is important to keep cows as calm as possible and keep the pen changes minimal. If possible, keeping your transition cow pens close to one another to minimize environmental stress factors during transition.

Impact on immune system

There are several challenges that can take over a cow’s immune system during the transition period. Hard pulls, twins, or a difficult calving process can also lead to increased risk of transition cow challenges. No matter what the challenge is that threatens a cow’s well-being, early detection is key to her recovery. With early detection, the cow can recover quickly, using more energy to increase milk production and less energy to deal with challenges.

• Udder health challenges can occur at any point in the transition period. If a cow is not properly dried off, she may experience udder health challenges as a dry cow, or right away in her lactation.
• Metabolic challenges stem from low levels of calcium in the bloodstream and can lead to more serious health challenges. The liver can get overwhelmed if a cow is experiencing metabolic challenges and calcium and phosphorus deficiencies can negatively impact the release of the placenta and/or other uterine health challenges. A correct ratio of calcium and phosphorus is necessary to overcome and avoid future challenges of metabolic challenges and expel the placenta.
• Release of the placenta – The placenta should be expelled within 24 hours after calving.
• Uterine health challenges – Often following a retained placenta, bacterial challenges can occur in the uterus.
• Negative energy balance – When a cow faces a negative energy balance, she begins to start burning fat to produce glucose. A negative energy balance can cause a drop in milk production, changes in weight, and a lack of energy. Without this necessary energy, cows cannot get over their challenges on their own.

Protocol around calving

To overcome the transition cow challenges outlined above, these simple standard protocols can be followed:

• 14 days prior to calving – increase energy in the diet or provide supplemental oral energy with the AHV Booster range.
• 1 day prior to calving – provide supplemental calcium with the AHV Milk Start Bolus.
• Day of calving – provide supplemental calcium and recovery support with the AHV Metri Bolus, AHV Milk Start Paste, AHV Booster Bolus and AHV Aspi.
• 5 days post calving – supply supplemental energy to avoid a negative energy balance with the AHV Booster range.

Metabolically during the transition period, the cow’s body is operating one way, but immediately after calving, the body begins to operate in a different way. After calving, the demand for minerals and energy drastically increases. In response to this change, challenges occur to try to recover.

The AHV Milk Start Paste, and Milk Start Bolus contain Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Vitamin D, which are among the most important vitamins and minerals needed around calving and throughout the transition period. Prominent levels of phosphorus can help cows overcome metabolic- and liver challenges. Both Magnesium and Vitamin D are essential for the efficient absorption of Calcium. Providing some form of these vitamins and minerals to cows will assist them in getting past calving challenges.

Tissue recovery requires a lot of energy. High producing cows need more vitamins, minerals, and energy than low producing cows. First calf heifers facing the challenge of calving for the first time also need great amounts of energy to recover. The AHV Booster range provides the animal with energy to meet these requirements.

To start cows on a path to success and quick recovery at calving, support them with AHV Aspi to improve tissue blood flow on the day they calve. AHV Aspi also supports the cow’s immune system. Additionally, it is important to remember that cows may decrease eating and rumination around calving. The walls of the rumen will be more susceptible to higher pH values because of an empty stomach. The AHV Booster range contains sodium bicarbonate to provide buffering and pH stabilization.

Approximately 70% of the health challenges a dairy cow may get in her lifetime happen during this transition period. Therefore, a lot of treatment protocols are created for this time. However, due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, efficacy of these protocols may be decreased. This is why AHV is proud to offer new solutions to old problems with the added benefit of no withdrawal period and no requirement to separate animals.

When transition cow health is optimized, cows are left with a better opportunity to be productive and successful in their lactation. If transition cow health is optimized year after year, cows will be more profitable and stay in the herd longer.

AHV Transition & Uterine Health Program

The AHV Transition Program focuses on the period before and after calving and ensures sufficient energy and minerals and stimulates dry matter intake. This program connects excellently with the AHV Uterine Health Program to fully support the recently calved cow and allow her to restart the reproductive cycle in the best way possible.

“Recently, we supported a cow with AHV Metri Tablet and AHV Booster Tablet after calving. We saw that the afterbirth came off easier and the cow started up a lot better. Because of the good results and ease of use, we will definitely continue with the AHV solutions.”

– Snoekvliet Dairy Farm, The Netherlands