Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Transition Period Metabolic Disease Prevention

The transition period around calving is the most metabolically demanding phase for dairy cows, and managing it well prevents multiple diseases that cause significant welfare impacts.

Key Facts

Approximately 50% of dairy cow disease occurs in the first month after calving
Milk fever, retained placenta, metritis, ketosis and displaced abomasum cluster in the transition period
Negative energy balance is the common driver underlying transition disease
Prepartum nutrition management dramatically reduces transition period disease incidence
Monitoring BHB and calcium levels identifies cows at risk before clinical signs appear

Welfare Considerations

The transition period represents a perfect storm of welfare risks for dairy cows. Multiple diseases can occur simultaneously or sequentially, each causing suffering and reducing future welfare. Strategic dry cow nutrition, avoiding overcrowding, monitoring metabolic parameters, and early treatment of developing conditions can prevent the majority of transition period disease.

What You Can Do

Support dairy farms with systematic transition cow monitoring programmes
Choose dairy products from farms with low transition disease prevalence
Advocate for transition cow management standards in dairy welfare codes