Cattle Transition Period: Welfare Science

Key Welfare Considerations

• The transition period involves dramatic physiological changes — cows are highly vulnerable to metabolic welfare disease.
• Subclinical hypocalcaemia (milk fever precursor) affects up to 50% of multiparous dairy cows without treatment.
• Clinical milk fever causes recumbency, weakness, and hypothermia requiring immediate welfare intervention.
• Negative energy balance (NEB) in early lactation drives ketosis development and welfare deterioration.
• Subclinical ketosis (elevated BHBA) impairs immune function, fertility, and welfare in affected cows.
• Displaced abomasum occurs most commonly within 2 weeks of calving — causing welfare pain and anorexia.
• Retained placenta is a transition welfare complication predisposing to metritis and uterine welfare disease.
• Metritis causes systemic illness, fever, and significant welfare suffering requiring prompt antibiotic treatment.
• Body condition at dry-off target of 2.5-3.0 prevents over-fat transition cow welfare problems.
• Dry cow nutrition management with low potassium, acidifying diets prevents hypocalcaemia welfare.
• Transition cow grouping in dedicated facilities with additional management reduces welfare disease incidence.
• Daily fresh feed push-up and maximum 4 hours daily feed absence maintains intake and welfare.
• Monitoring fresh cow BHBA with cowside test kits enables early ketosis welfare intervention.
• Propylene glycol oral drenching treats subclinical ketosis and restores energy welfare balance.
• Herd health planning integrating transition cow welfare monitoring improves outcomes across the dairy system.