The transition period from three weeks before to three weeks after calving is the highest-risk welfare period for dairy cows, with metabolic disease rates determining welfare outcomes for entire lactations.
Transition cow welfare is the fulcrum on which entire herd health and welfare turns. Cows that navigate the transition period without metabolic disease enter lactation healthy, immunocompetent, and resilient. Those that experience transition disease, even subclinically, carry immunological deficits and metabolic burden that compromise welfare throughout lactation. Investment in transition cow management, particularly prepartum nutrition, housing, and monitoring, delivers disproportionate welfare returns relative to other farm interventions. Dairy farms with excellent transition cow programs demonstrate that high production and high welfare are compatible, not competing, goals.