Transition cows get a lot of attention as the transition period brings significant challenges. For dairy cows, the transition period is typically the last three weeks of gestation and the first three weeks of lactation, during which cows undergo a variety of metabolic and immunological changes that increase their susceptibility to metabolic disorders and infectious diseases.

According to the American Institute of Stress, a popular definition of stress is “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize”.

Ruminants are particularly affected by heat stress for several reasons. First, the heat from rumen fermentation is a plus during colder weather because it operates as an “internal furnace” for ruminants.

Looking back to the 2019 forage year, it was a disaster for some dairy farms and a challenge for most. It was almost a perfect storm; several factors that could go wrong happened somewhere.

The transition period is a key intersection of management on dairies. The sudden increase in demand for energy and nutrients to support milk production, coupled with the stresses of calving, contribute to many different metabolic disorders.

We’re in an environment where consumer choice reigns. Companies and industries that survive in the future will have adapted to meet consumers’ demands. Those that choose to ignore these expectations will have a hard time keeping up and surviving.

It is a balancing act when it comes to feeding protein. Dairy cows do not have a requirement for crude protein, but instead they require amino acids, the building blocks of protein.

The National Research Council (NRC) lists requirements for vitamins A, D and E in their seventh revision of “Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle,” published in 2001.

It requires more than just energy to achieve peak performance and overall health of your milking herd. Vitamins are organic compounds required in small quantities and essential for the maintenance of life.