The transition period - the weeks before and after calving - is the most welfare-critical phase for dairy cows. Metabolic diseases during this period cause significant suffering and economic loss.
The transition period is where the welfare compromise of high-production dairy farming is most acute. Cows' bodies are under extreme physiological stress as they shift from pregnancy to high milk production. Metabolic diseases cause pain, reduced feed intake, and immunosuppression that leads to secondary infections. Management practices that reduce metabolic disease - including appropriate energy nutrition, space for dry cows, and avoiding unnecessary group changes - directly improve welfare and are also economically beneficial, yet are not universally practiced.