Dry Cow Management

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Dry Cow Management

• David Marcinkowski
• AVS346
• Dairy Cattle Technology

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Reasons for the Dry Period

• Give the cow a rest
• Cure any health problems
• Provide for the developing calf
• Regenerate mammary cells
• Prepare her for calving
• Prepare her for the next lactation

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What Determines Length of Dry Period?

• Reproductive efficiency
• Persistency of production
• Level of production
• Manager

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Effect of Dry Period Length
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Shorter Dry Periods

• Advantages
• Eliminate far-off group
• Reduce dry cow housing
• Less changes in diet
• Decreased metabolic disorders
• Fewer changes in diet
• Less drop in condition postpartum
• Faster return to reproductive activity

• Disadvantages
• Decreased milk (90-95)
• Mammary involution requires 2-3 weeks
• Lack of a rest phase
• Variation in gestation may cause some cows to be
  dry less than 30 days
• Effects on colostum quality (lt30 days)
• More problem breeders dont fit

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How to Dry Off

• Depends on level of production
• Not pressure related - need to build up FIL
  protein in the udder to suppress milk production
• FIL - Feedback Inhibitor of Lactation
• Some dry off naturally
• Reduce milking frequency (IX)
• Stop milking - cold turkey
• Reduce feed
• Reduce water

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Dry Treatment

• Many cases of mastitis occur during the dry
  period
• Infused antibiotics can stay in the udder for a
  longer period of time
• New product Orbeseal
• Select product based on lab cultures
• Double treatment Staph aureus
• Treating heifers

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Two Parts to Dry Period

• Early - rest and relaxation
• 40-45 days
• Late - get them steamed up
• 15-20 days
• Also called transition, steam up, prefresh period

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Maintenance Requirements
2Mature lactating33.5 BF
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Dry Period Ration

• Lots of forage
• Avoid too much corn silage and alfalfa
• Grain as needed
• Exercise

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Lead Feeding

• Begin 2-3 weeks prior to calving
• Up to 0.5 to 0.8 percent of body weight (prior to
  freshening) 1 percent of body weight at
  freshening
• Work up to 10 lbs of grain per day
• Add anionic salts

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Steam Up Ration Requirements
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Body Condition Scores for Dairy Cows
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Changes in BCS During Dry Period
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Effect of Body Condition in Dry Cows on
Subsequent Reproductive Performances
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Goals of a Dry Cow Management Program

• Avoid fat and thin cows through nutrition in late
  lactation
• Feed dry cows separately from the milking herd
• Aim for a 30-60 day dry period
• Rely on forages during the dry period
• Lead feed 10-14 days prior to calving
• Feed to prevent metabolic and calving problems