Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition Period
The peripartum period of a dairy cow is characterized by several physiological and behavioral changes in response to a rapid increase in nutrient demands, to support the final stages of fetal growth and the production of colostrum and milk. Traditionally, the transition period is defined as the peri...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/352 |
| _version_ | 1827605410043920384 |
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| author | Luciano S. Caixeta Bobwealth O. Omontese |
| author_facet | Luciano S. Caixeta Bobwealth O. Omontese |
| author_sort | Luciano S. Caixeta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The peripartum period of a dairy cow is characterized by several physiological and behavioral changes in response to a rapid increase in nutrient demands, to support the final stages of fetal growth and the production of colostrum and milk. Traditionally, the transition period is defined as the period 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after parturition. However, several researchers have argued that the transition period begins at the time of dry-off (~60–50 days prior to calving) and extends beyond the first month post-calving in high producing dairy cows. Independent of the definition used, adequate adaptation to the physiological demands of this period is paramount for a successful lactation. Nonetheless, not all cows are successful in transitioning from late gestation to early lactation, leading to approximately one third of dairy cows having at least one clinical disease (metabolic and/or infectious) and more than half of the cows having at least one subclinical case of disease within the first 90 days of lactation. Thus, monitoring dairy cows during this period is essential to detect early disease signs, diagnose clinical and subclinical diseases, and initiate targeted health management to avoid health and production impairment. In this review, we discuss different strategies to monitor dairy cows to detected unintended disruptions in performance and management strategies that can be implemented to improve the metabolic health and performance of dairy cows during the transition period. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:20:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2ae6cc70c2c442c09d7975549840d53d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:20:30Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-2ae6cc70c2c442c09d7975549840d53d2023-12-03T11:46:34ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-01-0111235210.3390/ani11020352Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition PeriodLuciano S. Caixeta0Bobwealth O. Omontese1Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USADepartment of Food and Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural, Life and Natural Sciences, Alabama A&M University, Normal, AL 35811, USAThe peripartum period of a dairy cow is characterized by several physiological and behavioral changes in response to a rapid increase in nutrient demands, to support the final stages of fetal growth and the production of colostrum and milk. Traditionally, the transition period is defined as the period 3 weeks before and 3 weeks after parturition. However, several researchers have argued that the transition period begins at the time of dry-off (~60–50 days prior to calving) and extends beyond the first month post-calving in high producing dairy cows. Independent of the definition used, adequate adaptation to the physiological demands of this period is paramount for a successful lactation. Nonetheless, not all cows are successful in transitioning from late gestation to early lactation, leading to approximately one third of dairy cows having at least one clinical disease (metabolic and/or infectious) and more than half of the cows having at least one subclinical case of disease within the first 90 days of lactation. Thus, monitoring dairy cows during this period is essential to detect early disease signs, diagnose clinical and subclinical diseases, and initiate targeted health management to avoid health and production impairment. In this review, we discuss different strategies to monitor dairy cows to detected unintended disruptions in performance and management strategies that can be implemented to improve the metabolic health and performance of dairy cows during the transition period.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/352dairy cow managementdairy nutritionhyperketonemiahypocalcemiaperformanceearly lactation |
| spellingShingle | Luciano S. Caixeta Bobwealth O. Omontese Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition Period Animals dairy cow management dairy nutrition hyperketonemia hypocalcemia performance early lactation |
| title | Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition Period |
| title_full | Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition Period |
| title_fullStr | Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition Period |
| title_full_unstemmed | Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition Period |
| title_short | Monitoring and Improving the Metabolic Health of Dairy Cows during the Transition Period |
| title_sort | monitoring and improving the metabolic health of dairy cows during the transition period |
| topic | dairy cow management dairy nutrition hyperketonemia hypocalcemia performance early lactation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/352 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lucianoscaixeta monitoringandimprovingthemetabolichealthofdairycowsduringthetransitionperiod AT bobwealthoomontese monitoringandimprovingthemetabolichealthofdairycowsduringthetransitionperiod |