The transition period around calving is the most welfare-intensive phase of the dairy cow's production cycle. Managing this period well prevents cascading health and welfare problems.
Transition cow welfare requires intensive management of nutritional and physiological changes around calving. Over-conditioned cows mobilize fat excessively in early lactation, causing ketosis and fatty liver — conditions that cause chronic illness and welfare harm. Under-conditioned cows face different immune and production challenges. Appropriate body condition at drying off, proper dry cow ration management, and post-calving monitoring for metabolic disease are the key welfare interventions. Farms with excellent transition management programs achieve lower fresh cow disease rates, less need for antibiotic treatment, and better overall lactation welfare outcomes.