Cattle Welfare: Dry Period Management and Welfare

Key Facts

The dry period of 60 days before calving is critical for cow welfare and health
Dry cow therapy decisions affect welfare of treated and untreated cows
Body condition at drying off significantly affects transition period welfare
Dry period stress including social disruption affects subsequent lactation welfare
Selective dry cow therapy reduces antibiotic use with welfare alignment

Welfare Considerations

Dairy cow dry period welfare requires integrated management of body condition, disease prevention, and social welfare during the transition from lactation to calving. Body condition management during the dry period significantly affects transition period health and welfare. Selective dry cow therapy aligns antibiotic stewardship with welfare by treating only cows that need it. Social disruption at drying off and during the dry period affects welfare in ways that good management can minimise.

What You Can Do

Support dairy welfare schemes with meaningful dry period management standards
Advocate for selective dry cow therapy as aligned with welfare and antibiotic stewardship goals
Choose dairy products from farms with documented dry period welfare protocols