Farm Animals

Cattle Transition Period Welfare: Periparturient Cow

The transition period around calving is the highest welfare-risk phase for dairy cows, associated with metabolic disease, pain, and immune suppression.

Key Facts

Transition cows are defined as the 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after calving
Subclinical hypocalcaemia affects up to 50% of multiparous cows without clinical signs
Fatty liver and ketosis affect 30-80% of dairy cows in the first weeks of lactation
Pain from calving is routinely undertreated in conventional dairy practice

Welfare Considerations

The transition period concentrates metabolic, immunological, and physical challenges in a narrow window. Improving transition cow welfare requires nutritional management, appropriate pain relief at calving, and monitoring for early disease intervention.

What You Can Do

Support dairy producers with structured transition cow monitoring programmes
Advocate for routine pain relief protocols at calving in dairy practice
Engage with research on nutritional strategies to reduce transition period disease burden