Drying up cows: dry up properly to produce properly

Drying up is an important stage in a cow’s production cycle. This period indicates the end of one lactation and the preparation of a new one: it is a resting and stabilising phase for the mammary gland, but also a phase of preparation for calving and reproduction. The correct use of a specific dry cow diet must be perfectly monitored to ensure a good start to lactation and good health for the calf.

Silent milk fever: invisible symptoms not to be missed when a cow goes dry

Silent or sub-clinical milk fever (hypocalcaemia), as its name suggests, is generally invisible and its symptoms are barely noticeable.
Unlike classic milk fever, where the cow remains on the ground, cows do not seem to show any signs of weakness and get back on their feet without a care.

The consequences of hypocalcaemia begin to show shortly after farrowing. These include problems with non-delivery, metritis, displaced abomasum and non-return from heat.
A cow that has not given birth more than six hours after calving may have sub-clinical milk fever.

Vitamin-enriched mineral supplementation for dairy cows during the dry up period

In order to avoid metabolic disorders linked to calving and the start of lactation, such as sub-clinical milk fever and its consequences, it is highly recommended to anticipate and give a suitable mineral supplement during the dry up period.
A suitable mineral is a special dry cow mineral designed to reverse the anion-cation balance, enabling the animal to mobilise its calcium reserves and avoid hypocalcaemia.
Drying up is a period of physiological rest for cows, and vitamin intake during this stage is essential. It helps to regenerate mammary tissue and improve the quality of colostrum. It is colostrum that builds the calf’s immune system.

How to make a successful dry up?

The needs of a dry cow are different from those of a productive cow. A successful dry up is one that enables the maintenance and gestation needs of the animal to be covered, while keeping its body condition stable (body condition score from 3 to 3.5). At dry up, the cow should be neither fat nor lean.
Feeding during the dry period must therefore be well thought out to avoid excessive fattening or slimming and maximum ingestion to limit the energy deficit at the start of lactation. However, it is advisable to pay close attention to transitions to avoid the shock of a change in feed regime which can cause metabolic disorders..

Reproduction in dairy cows

The development of the fertilising ovum for the future cycle takes place during the dry period. Vitamins (vitamin A and beta-carotene) are important, as they strengthen the reproductive cycle and boost ovum maturation. Deficiencies of these vitamins can weaken the follicles and slow follicular growth, and can result in poor heat expression. This can lead to additional expenses and economic losses.

Oxidative stress in dry up cows

Many antioxidants pass from mother to calf, where they are used to prepare colostrum. New measurement methods (Axiscale®) have revealed a significant antioxidant deficit as early as 3 weeks before calving. Provide an enriched mineral, GALAPHOS® AXION® TARIE, the mineral to improve milk production or a nutritional supplement adapted to optimise dry up period: Delta® AXION® STIM can make up for this deficit and reduce the negative consequences of oxidative stress.

A few tips for a successful dry up period

• Secure cation-anion balance levels in the ration: target 0 to -100 Meq/kg dry matter.
• Gradually increase the basic ration of lactating cows to get the rumen flora used to it.
• Increase the amount of production concentrate (1 kg/week).
• Secure trace element intakes to ensure good colostrum quality.
• Do not cut off the water supply to stop milk production.
• Avoid stress associated with the transition by balancing the ration according to the needs of the dry up cows.
• Distribute a special dry up cow mineral during the drying up phase.
• Monitor intakes to maintain a fat cover of 3-3.5.
• Take advantage of the dry up period to treat the animals and keep them healthy.
• Beware of excess soluble nitrogen at pasture, avoid early embryonic death.
• Avoid forages that are high in calcium, as there is a risk of hypocalcaemia at calving time.