April 19, 2001

Specialist Offers Tips to Avoid Metabolic Disorders

The six-week transition period surrounding calving can spark serious problems for dairy cows, triggering metabolic disorders that lead to low milk yield, sick cows, and reduced reproductive performance. However, management adjustments during that critical period can reduce herd expenses and stave off this management nightmare, says a North Dakota State University dairy specialist.

In a recent survey of feed consultants and dairy veterinarians, transition cow feeding was the third most critical area of problems and opportunities on their clients’ farms, notes J.W. Schroeder of the NDSU Extension Service. Forage quality and feedbunk management ranked first and second, respectively. "All three of these issues relate to nutrition, which includes feed quality, quantity, condition, and how it is delivered," he says.

"As producers take their cows to higher levels of production, attention given during the transition period becomes more and more critical to high production, optimal health, and cow longevity," Schroeder notes. "Unfortunately, on-farm testimonials and research results continue to send mixed signals about nutritional needs of the cow in transition."

A solid transition cow feeding and management program is the first line of defense to achieve transition cow production goals, he says. These management and feeding techniques include:

• Improve forage quality, both prepartum and postpartum, to maintain feed intake, avoid displaced abomasum , stimulate fiber digesting bacteria, and minimize rumen pH shifts.
• Maintain dry matter intake prepartum – over 28 pounds per cow for large breed cows – which increases energy intake and maintains rumen fill and reduces the risk of displaced abomasum.
• Increase starch and fermentable carbohydrate levels prepartum to increase propionic acid production – a source of blood glucose – by rumen bacteria.
• Provide adequate amounts of vitamin D for calcium and phosphorous absorption and mobilization.
• Slowly increase grain and starchy feeds after calving to avoid off-feed risks and maintain an optimal rumen environment.
• Separate heifers – first lactation cows – prepartum to reduce the need for anionic products and allow for higher protein and energy levels in their ration before calving.
• Maintain a minimum of 5 pounds of long fiber in the ration to maintain rumen function and avoid twisted stomach.
• Provide adequate feedbunk space – 2 to 3 feet per cow – and area or room – under 90 percent pen capacity – to improve cow comfort and allow optimal feed intake.

"These management and feeding strategies are not easy to implement," Schroeder says. "But these are some of the techniques managers of high-producing herds are using."

An additional consideration may be the use of feed additives. While they support and do not replace sound management, they can be used to help meet feeding goals. The feed additives that can be helpful fall into three classes:

• rumen modifiers, like yeast culture, buffers, ionophores, and probiotics;
• energy modifiers, including niacin, propylene glycol, calcium propionate, and rumen protected choline; and
• mineral modifiers, specifically anionic salts and products.

"Technological advances in nutrition and feed delivery have capitalized on the cows’ genetic potential to produce milk," Schroeder says. "But, good management is as much an "art" as a science. More information on transition cow management is available from county offices of the NDSU Extension Service. Ask for AS 1203, Feeding and Managing the Transition Cow.

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Source: J.W. Schroeder, (701) 231-7663, jschroed@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu