1.
Transition Cow, Cow Comfort, Heat Stress
Jack H Britt, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
University of Tennessee
&
N.C. State University

2.
Daily Management:
Transition Cow
Days from Parturition

3.
Phase I – Dry off until 21 days prepartum (early dry period)
 TMR High fiber diet , 2-3 kg straw
NEL 1.3-1.4 Mcal/kg
12-13% CP
 60-80 g Ca; 30-40 g P
 Trace minerals and vitamins in TMR
 Health & comfort
 Dry cow mastitis treatment
 Vaccines
 Trim feet, off concrete
 Provide shade

4.
Days in close-up pen
Goal: 21 d in close-up group
More
Milk
Days in close-up pen
Goal : Cows pregnant with
twins, 35 days in close-up
Source: Corbett, R. B. 2002.
J. Dairy Sci. 85(Suppl. 1):191-192. (Abstr.)
Better
Health

5.
Phase II – 21 days prepartum (late dry period)
 TMR, high fiber, highly palatable
 Adequate fiber length (> 3.75 cm)
 1-2 kg straw
 15% crude protein
 Increase starch (NFC 38 - 42%)
 Yeast
 Anionic salts, minerals, vitamins in TMR
 Rumen-protected choline; Ca salts of Omega 3 & 6 F.A. (fertility)
 Monitor intakes closely
Source:
J. Goff, Feedstuffs, March 8, 2004
J. S. Britt, DVM

6.
Cows
Heifers
Feed intake declines
during 3 wk pre-partum
 40% decline overall
Abrupt decline last 5 days
BCS = 2.8
BCS = 3.6
 Higher BCS – greater
decline
BCS = 4.4
Source: Hayirli et al,
J. Dairy Sci. 85: 3430-3443, 2002

7.
Transition Cow
Phase II Housing
 Calving pen
 Feed alley
 Lock-up
 Access to chute
Source: Roger W. Palmer, UW Madison-Dairy Science Department

8.
Phase III – 21 days postpartum
 TMR NEL 1.6-1.7 Mcal/kg
Highly palatable feeds (30-33% NDF)
 Adequate fiber length
 2-3 kg long stem hay
16-19% crude protein
 Increase starch (NFC 44%)
 Trace minerals and vitamins in TMR
 Rumen protected choline, Ca salts of omega 3 & 6 fatty acids
 Monitor intakes, limit total fat
Source:
J. Goff, Feedstuffs, March 8, 2004
J. S. Britt, DVM

9.
Transition Cow:
Transition Cow:
Energy Balance and Fertility
Energy Balance and Fertility
Progesterone
concentrations are
higher with more
positive energy
balance
6.0
Conception rate at first AI
is higher in cows with
higher energy balance
5.0
Postpartum
anestrus is shorter
with more positive
energy balance
4.0
Postpartum
Anestrus
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
1
0
12
2
3
24 36 48 60 72
Days Postpartum
84

10.
Daily Management:
Peripartum Problems Reduce Fertility
Problems Affecting Fertility
• Dystocia
• Twins
• Retained Placenta
• Metritis
• Metabolic diseases
>> ketosis, milk fever

11.
Relationships Between Primary and
Secondary Postpartum Disorders
Primary Disorder (occurs first)
Secondary
Disorder
(occurs next)
Milk
fever
Dystocia
Retained
placenta
Displaced
Metritis abomasum Ketosis
Dystocia
X
Retained placenta
X
X
Metritis
X
X
X
Displaced abomasum
X
X
X
Mastitis
X
X
X
X
Low conception.
X
X
X
X
X
X

12.
Daily Management:
Postpartum Reproductive Disorders
Recommendations
 Monitor temperature and appetite
 Treat sick cows systemically
 Delay treatment for other cows
 Monitor diameter of cervix @ 3-4 wk
 Treat endometritis after 30 days

13.
Daily Management:
Monitor Cervix Diameter
* 21-28 days postpartum
Cervix Diam eter Group
Smallest
1/3
Largest
1/3
Percentage of cows
40%
26%
1st service conception
67%
47%
85
108
Trait
Days open
*492 cows in 8 commercial herds, Michigan
Source: Oltenacu et al. 1983. J Dairy Sci. 66: 612.

14.
Daily Management:
Mastitis and Milk Loss
Primiparous
Impact of clinical mastitis
on milk yield
 Primiparous (DIM = 22)
 Multiparious (DIM = 81)
Approximately 1600 cows on two
commercial farms in New York state.
Source: Wilson et al. J Dairy Sci. 2004. 87: 2073.
Multiparous

15.
Daily Management:
Mastitis and Conception Rates
Mastitis Status
After
Before 1st Soon after
Preg.
AI
1st AI
Diagnosis
250
147
103
Trait
No. Cows
None
501
Con. Rate 1st AI
29%
22%
10%
38%
Preg. @ 320 DIM
85%
72%
59%
93%
Abortion
6%
12%
12%
10%
Source: Santos et al. 2004. Animal Reproduction Science 80:31-45.

16.
Daily Management:
Heat Stress
Managing Heat Stress
Shade <> Cooling <>Ventilation
Feed Intake <> Protein <> Water

17.
Daily Management:
Heat Stress
Seasonal conception rate
3200 Holsteins cows southeast US
Cows affected more than heifers
Cows
Heifers
Source: Faust et al. 1988. J. Dairy Sci. 71:3092
Sartori et al. 2002. J. Dairy Sci. 85:2803.
Heat stress affects cows more than heifers.

18.
Heat Stress Management
Feeding
•Monitor intake
• Adjust protein
Shade
•Over cows
•Over feed
Water
• Clean
• Exit alleys
Fans over stalls

19.
Cooling Cows During Heat Stress
Fans & sprinkler over feed bunk
Fans
Sprinklers

20.
Cow Comfort
Transition & Heat Stress Management
Free stalls
•Sand
• Size
Alleys
• Rubber floor strips
• Grooved
Holding pens
•Ventilation
•Water in exit alleys
Fans over stalls

21.
Cow Comfort:
Estrus is Affected by Footing Surface
Concrete
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Number of Mounts per 5-Minutes
Dirt
Concrete
0 to 5
6 to 10
11 to 15
16 to 20
21 to 25
Minutes from Movement
Dirt
Britt et al. 1986. J. Dairy Sci. 69: 2195.
26 to 30

22.
Gracias!