Don't neglect dry cows at grass

Dairy farmers need to pay particular attention to dry cow management at grass if they want to get the most from fresh calvers according to NWF Technical Manager Tom Hough who believes many dry cows are inadvertently mismanaged once they are turned out.

“At turnout it is tempting to just let dry cows out to grass and forget about them.  This is a recipe for disaster,” Mr Hough observes.  “Dry cows are the most important animals on the farm and deserve a high level of management.  While the best control of dry cow feeding is achieved by keeping them housed this is not possible in many cases.

“Incorrect management of dry cows at grazing can lead to increases in calving problems including displaced abomasums and retained cleansings, increased metabolic problems such as milk fever as well as reduced yields and poorer fertility.  The dry cow is still working hard, growing a calf as well as repairing the udder and preparing for the next lactation.”

According to Mr Hough grazed grass is not the ideal feed for dry cows as it is too easy for cows to consume too much energy and gain weight, while the mineral levels are also not ideal.  Potassium in particular can be very high at the start of the grazing season and can predispose cows to milk fever.

“Far off dry cows should ideally be turned out onto a paddock where grass is no higher than a golf ball and they should be stocked tight to control intakes.  Provide straw as gut fill.

“Cows from drying off up to three weeks pre-calving need around 90-100MJ per day, with a protein content in the diet of 12-14%.  Close up calved cows require 120-130 MJ/day and 13-15% crude protein.  Condition scoring dry cows is the best way to ensure energy intakes are adequate and that cows aren’t being under or over fed.

Mr Hough advises farmers to dry cows off in the condition they need calve down in and recommends a target score of 3.0.  He stresses that if cows are too fat at calving they will be more prone to dystokia, retained cleansings, milk fever and will have lower peak yields.  Very thin dry cows will have lower yields, less persistent lactations and lower fertility.

Mr Hough believes farmers need to prevent cows gaining or losing weight while they are dry so advises they condition score cows while still in milk and adjust late lactation diets to get them in the right condition and keep them there.

“Dry cows need adequate mineral supply to boost immunity and prepare them for the next lactation.  At the very least, give them access to dry cow mineral buckets which are specially formulated to provide the minerals and vitamins they need, although ideally formulate rations that are balanced for energy, protein and minerals, and ensure you are achieving adequate intakes.

“Farmers need to ensure their fresh calved cows are in optimum condition to produce high yields soon after calving.  Dry cow management is the key to achieving this and so deserves to be high on the priority list,” Mr Hough concludes