Checklist for Limiting the Negative Effects of a Long Dry Period

Housing

Minimize stress, avoid overcrowding, provide a clean, dry and well ventilated environment

• Ensure that there is adequate ventilation to minimize heat stress
  • Aim for a respiration rate below 60 breaths/minute.
  • Ensure that the dry cows are cooled in the summer (wind speed 300 to 400 ft. /min) across the backs of resting animals.
  • Provide good air quality (40 to 60-air changes/hour in summer, 15 in the spring and fall, and 4 in the winter)
• Limit overcrowding in pens
  • Aim for a minimum of 120 ft²/head resting area
  • Provide a minimum of 30 in./head space at the feed bunk
  • If overcrowding in unavoidable:
    • If possible, increase the space at the feed bunk by adding more mangers
    • Increase the number of waterers or watering points
    • Add bedding more often
    • Increase feeding frequency and push in the feed more often
    • Evaluate the number of replacement animals you will need and cull if necessary to free up some space.
• Disinfect calving areas and the sick cow pen
• Ideally, never calve cows in the sick cow pen.
• Provide sufficient water flow (15 l/min) for tie stalls or a minimum of two waterers for free stalls (3.5 in. /head). The water should be clean at all times.
• Provide adequate comfort for dry cows that are housed outside:
  • Provide shade (45 ft²/cow)
  • Provide a minimum of 30 in. /head of space at the feed bunk.  For example, a round hay feeder with an 8-foot diameter and 18 sections will allow 15 cows to eat at the same time.
  • Control flies and parasites
  • Provide fresh water and clean waterers

Daily Observation

Prevent health problems

• Designate someone to be responsible for evaluating:
  • Lameness
  • Udder engorgement
  • General behaviour (standing, lying down)
  • Rumen fill, rumination
  • Manure texture

Body Condition Score

Production

• Body condition score should ideally be maintained between 2.75 and 3.25. Monitor body condition once a month.
• Prepare cows 25 days before calving and heifers 32 days before calving.
  • The average duration of a pregnancy is 280 days (Valacta, 2020).  Validate the pregnancy duration used by your software.
• Group cow relocations to only take place once a week.
  • Relocate cows at least 21 days before their predicted calving date or right before labour begins.
  • Ensure that the alleys are not slippery when moving cows.
• Evaluate the option of using the Rumensin bolus with your veterinarian.
• Clip and wash the udder before calving.

Feeding

Prevent metabolic problems through adequate feeding.

• Limit energy intake during the first phase of the dry period (16-17 MCal/day)
  • Validate forage intake
  • Analyze the forage that is fed to dry cows
  • Add fibre or straw to the ration to dilute the energy
• Meet mineral and vitamin needs
  • If the minerals are offered in the form of a mineral lick block, validate the true intake from the block and complement if necessary
• Provide comparable feeds in the dry ration and the close-up ration
• Evaluate the use of choline
• Monitor urine pH when using anions in the ration