Farm Animals

Cattle Transition Period Disease Prevention

The transition period around calving is the highest-risk welfare period for dairy cows, requiring targeted nutritional and clinical management.

Key Facts

80% of dairy cow diseases occur in the first month after calving
Hypocalcaemia, ketosis and displaced abomasum cluster in fresh cows
Negative energy balance in early lactation drives multiple metabolic conditions
Transition cow nutrition programs significantly reduce disease incidence
Close-up dry cow management determines much of transition cow health

Welfare Considerations

Transition period diseases cause significant pain and metabolic distress. Many are preventable through evidence-based nutrition and monitoring. Farm investment in transition cow programs - including individual monitoring, appropriate supplementation and veterinary protocols - reduces suffering and improves lifetime welfare.

What You Can Do

Support dairy welfare standards addressing transition period management
Advocate for veterinary involvement in transition cow protocols
Buy dairy from farms with documented low transition disease rates