Livestock

Dairy Cow Transition Period: Welfare Priorities 2026

The three weeks before and after calving represent the most welfare-critical period in a dairy cow's annual cycle, with metabolic disease risk and management demands at their peak.

Key Facts

Transition cows have the highest risk of metabolic disease including milk fever, ketosis and displaced abomasum
Negative energy balance in early lactation is unavoidable but its severity can be managed through nutrition
Up to 50% of dairy cows may suffer from subclinical ketosis in early lactation in some herds
Immune function is naturally suppressed around calving, increasing infection susceptibility

Welfare Considerations

Metabolic disease during the transition period causes significant welfare impacts from pain, weakness, reduced appetite and systemic illness. Welfare priorities include providing adequate dry cow nutrition in the far-off and close-up periods, ensuring appropriate body condition at calving, providing a clean calving environment, monitoring for subclinical ketosis, and prompt treatment of clinical cases.

What You Can Do

Implement a structured transition cow management programme with veterinary guidance
Monitor body condition scores regularly and adjust dry cow nutrition to achieve target condition at calving
Use BHBA monitoring to screen for subclinical ketosis in early lactation cows
Ensure transition cow housing provides adequate space, ventilation and cleanliness