Dry Cows

Case study: How a high-producing dairy herd cuts antibiotic use by 78%

gepalas@iastate.edu — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

For this herd, the opportunity wasn’t solving a visible problem, it was uncovering unnecessary cost. By using individual cow data to guide dry-off decisions, they reduced treatment, maintained herd performance and captured additional value.

Nexus awards: New bolus helps dry cows off faster, more comfortably

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Administering cows an innovative technology in bolus form at dry-off has been shown to decrease milk production 50% to 60% in the first 24 hours after dry-off. Research on the new product – StopLac from AHV – shows it also doesn’t negatively impact the health of the cow or milk production in her next lactation.

Do your best to limit inflammation

don.larson@feedworksusa.com — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Inflammation is not limited to obvious clinical cases; it’s a normal biological process that takes place every day in a cow. We should recognize it as part of the cow’s constant physiologic balancing act, and one that becomes especially delicate during the transition period.

6 steps to maximize dry-off comfort and productivity

jenna.williamson@ahvint.com — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A well-managed dry-off period pays dividends in higher milk yield, healthier cows and fewer fresh cow problems. By prioritizing comfort, health and body condition, producers can turn this resting phase into one of the most productive investments in the herd’s future performance.

Good colostrum handling maximizes the value of dry cow vaccines and management

halley.fobes@vaxxinova.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The early days of a calf’s life can be perilous. With limited immune function of their own, they are reliant on the protection provided by maternal colostrum. That protection goes beyond antibodies (immunoglobulins or IgG) and remains an area of active research.

From vision, GenoSource LLC develops a herd of premium genetics to market worldwide

audrey@agproud.com — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In 2014, a bold vision took shape in Blairstown, Iowa, to build a dairy farm with the goal of creating a modern, efficient cow capable of excelling in freestall environments with few health issues and high feed efficiency. That idea became GenoSource LLC, which stands as a testament to vision, persistence and the power of collaboration.

From dry-off to peak milk: Best practices that set transition cows up for success

matthew.boyle@zoetis.com — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Looking at optimizing the entire transition period may seem like a daunting task at first, but it gets easier when we break it down into three key time periods: 60 days pre-fresh, 30 days pre-fresh and 30 days post-fresh.

The Target Cow concept: Finding the right cows at the right time

axb779@psu.edu — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

The focus should be on identifying the subgroups of animals within these larger groups that are more susceptible to succumbing to the transition period challenges. In order to do this, we created the Target Cow concept.

Avoid dry-off surprises: Use robotic tools to smooth the end of lactation

john@cow-corner.co — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Like the speedometer, the dry-off list may include cows that are milking more than expected, and it might be necessary to pump the brakes hard to dry them off successfully. Or, like the blind spot, life happens, holidays and time off intervene, and suddenly, there are more cows on the dry-off list than expected. Automated milking systems and milking system software have some options for managing cows going into the dry period.

Tapping into data to improve transition cow health and farm ROI

steven.pavelski@nedap.com — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

From pre-fresh to post-fresh, data from automated monitoring technology empowers dairies to act earlier, manage smarter and achieve stronger returns – one transition cow at a time.

Can dry cows see the future? How monitoring technology can predict fresh cow issues

tiago.tomazi@merck.com — Tue, 27 May 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Your cows may not have a crystal ball, but monitoring technology used during the dry period may provide valuable information that can be used to predict the risk of potential health disorders that could affect lactation performance post-calving. Considering dry cows often are “out of sight and out of mind,” monitoring technology can fill the gap by keeping tabs on them 24-7.

The bolus boost: How acidogenic boluses enhance dry-off management

lcaixeta@umn.edu — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Managing the transition period in high-producing dairy cows is critical to maintaining udder health, comfort and production efficiency. Recent advancements in dry-off strategies, such as the use of oral acidogenic boluses, offer innovative ways to tackle challenges such as elevated milk production, intramammary infections and clinical mastitis.

When and how much muscle do cows lose and gain throughout lactation?

jboerma@purdue.edu — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Skeletal muscle plays a crucial role in dairy cows’ health and productivity, but it’s also a very dynamic tissue. It can be mobilized to support milk production during periods of negative energy balance, but recovery of lost muscle is much slower.

Shaping success: The role of fat and muscle in transition cows

gouveiak@msu.edu — Tue, 29 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

One factor that plays a role in the success of the transition period is the cow’s body composition, more specifically the fat and muscle of the cow. Both fat and muscle tissues are mobilized during the transition period to compensate for the negative nutrient balances and provide precursors for milk and milk components.

More than milk production: Long-term effects of heat stress

twood@lallemand.com — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Impacts of heat stress on dairy cows extend beyond immediate milk production. Maternal heat stress in utero affects fetal development, leading to compromised growth, immune function and long-term productivity in offspring.

Rethinking the dry period by shortening or eliminating

alvaro@dellait.com — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The dry period, usually lasting 60 days before calving, serves essential roles in preparing cows for lactation, promoting mammary cell renewal and facilitating treatment for subclinical mastitis. However, shortening or eliminating this period has become a strategy to manage milk production, redistributing energy balance and mitigating the risk of metabolic disorders like subclinical ketosis.

What happens in the dry cow group impacts the whole dairy

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Calving is not a disease; it is a stage that needs to be managed and how that is done will impact a cow for her entire lactation. Best practices for transitioning a cow from far-off fresh to her lactation group has a host of areas that need focused attention by the entire management team on the dairy.

BRD prevention in dairy calves starts with dry cow management

david.prentice@elancoah.com — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Managing bovine respiratory disease (BRD) can sometimes feel like a game of whack-a-mole for dairy producers. Many stressors can pop up with little to no advanced warning early in a calf’s life, putting them at greater risk for developing BRD.

The University of Alberta develops an innovative reproductive probiotic

katie@agproud.com — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:23:00 -0400

Our study demonstrates that incorporating probiotics as a preventive measure is an innovative approach to proactively prevent and fight diseases, surpassing the need for antibiotics once symptoms arise.

Is it time to sharpen your dry-off practices?

tiago.tomazi@merck.com — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:23:37 -0400

It would be handy to have a crystal ball at dry-off time. After freshening, will the cow produce high-quality colostrum that transfers needed antibodies to her calf? Will she freshen without mastitis?

Managing the transition period for maximum success

eribeiro@uoguelph.ca — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 13:45:46 -0400

The impacts of management during the transition period can make or break future lactations and overall herd health, putting at risk investments in genetics, farm profitability and welfare.

JTP Farms surpasses performance goals, supports cow health with use of technology

jenn@agproud.com — Sun, 01 Jan 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Comfort first has long been the philosophy for Jake Peissig and JTP Farms; focusing on improving animal well-being and allowing production, herd health and performance to fall into place.

Is selective dry cow therapy right for me?

matt.gough@delaval.com — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 09:19:29 -0400

Six considerations to determine if selective dry cow therapy is right for your herd and which cows to treat.

5 tips for a successful dry period

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 21:51:52 -0400

The dry period is essential for dairy cows to allow for regeneration of milk-secreting tissue and prepare the udder for optimal success in the next lactation.

Create quality colostrum in the cow

david.prentice@elancoah.com — Fri, 25 Feb 2022 20:05:11 -0500

A majority of the attention placed on colostrum management has to do with how to properly harvest, store and feed colostrum for maximum benefit to the calf.

Ask a Vet: What is selective dry cow therapy and could it be an option for your dairy?

vicky.lauer@armorah.com — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 14:00:01 -0500

As dairy farmers have likely noticed, long-lasting intramammary antibiotics (also called dry cow tubes) are in very tight supply this year.

Body condition in transition cows

axb779@psu.edu — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 13:00:01 -0400

Excellent nutrition during lactation results in proper body condition in dry cows, which is a determining factor for a successful next lactation.

Association between dry period length and fat, protein and milk yield in the next lactation

Thu, 16 Sep 2021 21:36:22 -0400

The optimal dry period length remains a topic of practical interest and scientific study. Short dry period lengths reduce milk, fat and protein yield in the next lactation but allow for more milk harvested in the current lactation.

Selective dry cow therapy: Antimicrobial stewardship can offer returns in appropriate herds

amy.vasquez@danone.com — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 22:09:47 -0400

A recent multi-site clinical trial by our group found that two selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) programs each used 55 percent less antibiotics at dry-off than blanket dry cow therapy (BDCT) without negatively affecting udder health in the next lactation.

Eight strategies to reduce dry period mastitis to improve reproductive efficiency

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 20:33:16 -0400

Dairy cows are most susceptible to new intramammary infections (IMIs) during the dry period. IMIs acquired during the dry period can have a significant impact on milk production, milk quality, herd removal and reproductive performance post-calving.