Dry Cow Nutrition and Management

1. Dry Cow Nutrition and Management

2. Phase Feeding • Phase 1 Far off dry cows • Phase 2 Close up dry cows (transition phase) • Phase 3 Fresh cow (transition phase) • Phase 4 Peak milk cows (set lactation curve) • Phase 5 Peak dry matter cows (persistency) • Phase 6 Tail end cow (least profitable)

3. Phases • Far-off • 60 to 21 days before calving • Phase 1 • Traditional dry cow period • Close-up • 21 days to freshening • Phase 2 • Periparturient – 3 days before to 7 days after calving • Transition phase—21 days pre-partum to 21 days post-partum

4. Early Dry Cow Goals • Allow the mammary gland to recover • Adjust/control body weight (3.25) • Build the immune system • Provide nutrients for the unborn calf • Allow feet and legs to recover • Minimize metabolic disorder risks • Keep pregnant heifers growing while meeting dry cow needs

5. Length - 45 to 60 days • Less than 40 days results in incomplete involution and regeneration of the mammary gland • Over 70 days results in less milk due to metabolic disorders and less income • Longer: 60 to 80 days, target young cows, high milk yielding cows, short calving interval • Shorter: 40 to 45 days, older cows, low milk yield, long calving interval • No dry days: 25 to 33 percent less milk • Short dry period: new concept, cows > 2nd lactation, 40 days, more income

6. Far Off Dry Activities • Involution of mammary gland (reduces secretory tissue, less DNA content) • Shift to lower energy diet to maintain body weight • May allow feet and legs to recover on dirt or pasture conditions • Maintain exercise (moving water sources away from feed sources • Vaccinations for colostrum milk antibodies and coliform mastitis

7. Feeding the Far Off Dry Cow • Time: Dry off to 21 days prepartum • Forage based ration with 11.3 Kg corn silage (as fed basis) and 0.5 to 2.3 Kg of straw (low energy diet approach from Illinois) • Long grass or legume forage (RFV > 130) with no mold • 0.9 to 2.3 Kg of grain (depending on forage quality and BCS) • Top quality trace mineral and vitamin program

8. * Control metabolic disorder* Blood calcium * Mobilized blood fat (NEFA)* Shift rumen bacteria* Build the immune system* Maintain dry matter intake Close Up Dry Cow Goals

9. Close Up Dry Cow Activities • Mammary epithelial regeneration (bagging up, increase secretary tissue, and hormonally controlled) • Shift diet to transition to lactation • Control blood calcium • Minimize non-esterified fatty acid increase (NEFA); an indication of weight loss • Cow comfort, space, and bunk/feeding area

10. Feeding Close Up Dry Cows • Time: 21 days before calving • Dry matter intake: > 11.3 Kg • Feed 2.3 to 3.1 Kg of long forage DM (can be straw), 9-11 Kg of corn silage, and 0.9 to 3.1 Kg of close-up cow grain mix • Feed 4.5 to 5.4 Kg DM from high group TMR and dry cow forage (straw or low potassium hay plus close up grain mix)

11. Close Up Dry Cow Grain Mix • 0.9 to 3.2 Kilograms of grain • Increase rumen undegraded protein • Anionic salts (milk fever and blood calcium) • Yeast culture (stabilize rumen) • Replace 1/3 inorganic trace minerals with organic trace minerals (immune system) • Increase vitamin E to 2500 IU per cow • Consider propylene glycol or calcium propionate (glucose precursor) • Add rumen protected niacin (ketosis control)

12. Periparturient Period • Reduction in feed intake (10 to 30 percent) leading to fat deposition in the liver • Immunosuppression (white blood cells are less effective in killing (phagocytosis) bacteria • Hypocalcemia (blood calcium levels below 8 mg/dl) • Calving problems (dystocia, cows give up) • Uterine contractions reduced (not clean) • Less smooth muscle contractions in the digestive tract (lower feed intake)

13. Role of Immunity • Hormonal changes around parturition can lead to immunosuppressive • Other stressors • Heat (reduce blood flow internally) • Lower nutrient intake • Disease exposure • Comfort • Highest incidence of mastitis • Edema reduces blood flow • Colostrum milk remains in the udder

14. Drying Off Guidelines • Level of milk: < 22 Kg • Reduce feed intake, especially concentrate • Long acting intra-mammary antibiotic for to prevent or treat mastitis • Continue teat dipping • DO NOT LIMIT WATER INTAKE

15. Environmental Factors • Photoperiod: Short-days (8 h light: 16 h dark) leads to increased milk production (long-days during lactation). • Heat stress: Exacerbates decrease in dry matter intake and shifts blood flow • Hormonal changes affect milk production and immune function. • Cow comfort and feed bunk space (30 inches)

16. Body Condition Score • Optimal for cows is 3.0 to 3.5 • Optimal for heifers is 3.0 to 3.25 • Heavy cows should not lose body weight nor gain additional weight • Thin cows below 2.75, add 1/2 BCS (60 lb) • Above 2.75, maintain current BCS (thin cows milk less, but they do not die)

17. New Dry Cow Concepts • Short dry period—45 days • Milk for an extra 20-25 days @ +30 Kg • Only 2nd + lactation cows • One less pen move • High straws diets for the entire dry period • 30% of the ration dry matter (7 to 11 lb) • Stimulate dry matter intake (calorie theory) • Reduce fat mobilization during the transition period

18. Transition Period:3 Weeks Before to 3 Weeks After Calving • The most critical 6 wk of lactation cycle • Determines profit for entire lactation! • Nutrition or management may limit peak milk yield • Health problems may limit milk, add costs, force culling

19. Signs of Inadequate Transition Management • High incidence of metabolic disorders • Poor appetites, low dry matter intakes • Acidosis problems • Rapid loss of BCS 1st mo post-calving • Poor conception rate

20. Metabolic Disorder Risks Metabolic disorders Goals Milk fever < 4% Ketosis < 3% DA < 3% Retained placenta < 5%

21. Milk feverD.A.Retained placentaKetosisLameness Cost of Metabolic Disorders $334 $340 $285 $145 $122

22. Illinois Data--DMI

23. Milk Production

24. The ability to observe and manage the fresh cow in a group environment Fresh Cow Principle

25. * Step up nutrient intake* Stabilize rumen* Optimize D.M. intake* Observe the cow* Set the lactation profile Goals Fresh Cows

26. Fresh Cow Limitations • Lower feed intake if challenged • Injured more if competition exists • Less likely to compete at feeding stations • Fatigue quicker (weaker hind limb) • Dominant cows in heat will pick on fresh and smaller cows more

27. * 180 grams of sodium bicarbonate* 12 grams niacin* 20-140 g yeast culture* 150 g calcium propionate* Direct fed microbials (DFM or probiotics) Fresh Cow Additives

28. Dr. Mike Hutjen’s Ration • 2.2 Kg of quality hay (RFV > 150) fed outside the TMR (yes, not mixed in) • 2.2 Kg of the fresh cow cocktail mix • Digestible fiber • Trace mineral and vitamin E • Additives (bicarb, niacin, calcium propionate,yeast culture) • Remaining intake is high group TMR

29. Time 1st lact2nd+ lact --------kg/cow/day------------Week 1 14.1 16.6Week 2 15.9 19.3Week 3 17.3 21.1Week 4 18.2 22.3 Week 5 18.9 23.9 Dry Matter Intake

30. Stresses on Transition Cows • Metabolic stress (unavoidable) • Heat stress • Overcrowding • Infectious challenge • Sub-optimal grouping and movement • Social dominance • Uncomfortable housing • Rough handling

31. Impacts of Stresses on Transition Cows • Decrease DMI • Divert nutrients to immune function • Reduces milk production • Interfere with lactogenic hormones • Increase body fat mobilization • Disrupts of normal metabolic shifts and adaptations to lactation

32. Fundamental Management and Nutrition Practices For A Good Transition Cow Program • Put the close up cows on a specific ration to build the immune system and maintain feed intake • Reduce any stress (space, bunk area, heat stress, or disease challenges) • Control metabolic disorders • Stimulate feed intake after calving • Avoid excessive weight loss (over 1kg per day) • Minimizing moving cows frequently • Develop a fresh cow ration