The transition periodāthe three to four weeks before and after calvingāis the most welfare-critical phase of a dairy cow's production cycle. Metabolic diseases arising during this period are among the most significant welfare challenges in dairy farming, and their prevention through targeted management is a welfare and economic priority.
At calving, dairy cows face simultaneous demands: recovering from parturition, initiating milk production (a massive metabolic undertaking), adapting to changed social environments and feed, and managing the hormonal shifts of reproduction. These converging demands create a window of metabolic vulnerability when multiple diseases can occur simultaneously or sequentially.
Ketosis: Negative energy balance drives fat mobilization; if excessive, ketone body accumulation causes depression, reduced feed intake, and significantly reduced welfare. Subclinical ketosis (without obvious signs) affects 40-60% of dairy cows in some herds. Displaced abomasum: Gas accumulation displaces the fourth stomach, causing partial obstruction and requiring surgical correction. Milk fever (hypocalcaemia): Calcium deficiency at calving causes progressive muscle weakness and collapse. Retained placenta: Failure to expel placenta within 24 hours causes uterine infection (metritis)āa painful, systemic welfare problem.
Evidence-based transition management reduces metabolic disease incidence dramatically: appropriate pre-calving nutrition (avoiding excess energy and potassium), dietary cation-anion balance manipulation, adequate dry matter intake in the three weeks pre-calving, propionic acid supplementation, and monitoring programs that detect subclinical disease early enable intervention before clinical welfare emergencies develop.
Part of the Animal Welfare Hub ā 2376+ pages of evidence-based animal welfare information.