The transition period around calving is the most welfare-critical phase in a dairy cow's productive cycle, with high rates of metabolic disease and immune suppression.
The transition period represents the convergence of calving stress, reproductive demands, immune challenge and metabolic strain on dairy cows. Animals in negative energy balance — burning body reserves faster than they can eat — are in physiological distress that compromises welfare and increases disease risk. Proper dry cow nutrition, body condition management and calving facility design all significantly affect transition health. Prompt recognition and treatment of metabolic disease is essential — cows with undiagnosed ketosis, hypocalcaemia or mastitis suffer significantly. High-welfare dairy management treats transition health as a priority, not an afterthought.