Farm Animals

Cattle Welfare and Transition Period Management

The transition period around calving is the highest-risk welfare period for dairy cows, with metabolic disease causing significant suffering.

Key Facts

Up to 50% of dairy cows experience a metabolic disorder in the first month of lactation
Subclinical ketosis affects 40% of cows and causes pain and reduced immunity
Negative energy balance causes liver damage and immune suppression
Transition cow monitoring programs reduce metabolic disease by 30-40%
Prevention-focused nutrition during the dry period is the most effective intervention

Welfare Considerations

Transition period disorders cause significant, often unrecognized suffering in dairy cows. Preventive management programs dramatically reduce this welfare burden.

What You Can Do

Support dairy welfare certification including transition period monitoring
Advocate for ketosis and other metabolic disease as welfare indicators
Choose dairy from farms with documented transition management programs