The period around calving is the most welfare-critical phase in a dairy cow life. Metabolic diseases cause significant suffering and are among the leading welfare and economic problems in dairy.
The transition period from late pregnancy through early lactation is the most physiologically demanding phase in a dairy cow life, and metabolic disease during this period causes significant suffering. Ketosis causes lethargy, reduced appetite, and poor condition; milk fever causes collapse and inability to rise. Targeted nutritional management in the pre-calving period, including appropriate mineral supplementation and body condition management, dramatically reduces incidence and is among the most cost-effective welfare investments in dairy farming.