Farm Animals

Cattle Transition Period Metabolic Welfare

The transition period around calving is the highest-risk phase for dairy cow health and welfare.

Key Facts

The transition period covers three weeks before and three weeks after calving
Negative energy balance after calving increases risk of ketosis, fatty liver and displaced abomasum
Subclinical ketosis affects up to 40% of cows in some herds without obvious clinical signs
Blood BHBA testing enables early identification and treatment of ketosis
Good transition cow nutrition reduces the risk of periparturient disease significantly

Welfare Considerations

Metabolic diseases cause significant pain and distress during the transition period and are a major cause of early lactation culling. Proactive nutritional management, monitoring and early treatment are essential to protect transition cow welfare.

What You Can Do

Support dairy farms with accredited welfare standards covering transition cow management
Choose dairy products from farms with low culling rates and health records
Advocate for compulsory transition cow health monitoring in farm assurance schemes
Learn more from AHDB Dairy resources on transition cow management