The dry cow, in my view, is the most important care element for the dairy herd. What happens to the dry cow in that period makes or breaks a fresh cow. For those farms that trim cows at dry-off and take the time to inspect feet, I commend your proaction, but I wish to point out a few subtleties that may give pause for thought.

The transition from late pregnancy to lactation requires enormous physiological adaptations from the dairy cow. One of the most important changes that occurs involves the balance of calcium. Cows unable to maintain adequate blood-calcium concentrations are susceptible to higher rates of early postpartum metabolic disorders and produce less milk.

Lambertville, New Jersey, has many draws. It’s an hour’s drive north of Philadelphia and an hour’s drive south of New York City. It’s known as the “Antiques Capital of New Jersey.” The nearby Delaware River offers plenty of recreational activities.