Livestock

Dairy Cow Transition Period Welfare

The transition period around calving is the most metabolically challenging phase of a dairy cow's production cycle and the time of greatest welfare risk.

Key Facts

The transition period encompasses the three weeks before and after calving
Negative energy balance in early lactation is universal and causes subclinical ketosis in many cows
Hypocalcaemia (milk fever) and displaced abomasum are common and painful transition disorders
Immune suppression around calving increases susceptibility to mastitis and uterine infection
Body condition score management throughout the dry period significantly affects transition welfare

Welfare Considerations

Transition cows experiencing ketosis, milk fever, or uterine infection suffer significant metabolic and physical illness that impairs welfare and production simultaneously. Proactive transition management including body condition monitoring, appropriate dry period nutrition, and prophylactic calcium supplementation can substantially reduce the incidence of transition disorders and the welfare burden they cause.

What You Can Do

Support dairy certification requiring documented transition cow management protocols
Advocate for transition period welfare assessment in dairy farm assurance standards
Choose dairy from farms with known low transition disorder rates where possible
Support veterinary health planning that prioritises transition cow welfare
Encourage investment in transition monitoring technology including automated body condition scoring