Management of the Prepartum Cow

Abstract

The experience of dairymen working with today's high nutrient content, low fibre feeds, and research involving the dry cow, have made it clear that prepartum management and feeding have a major impact on health at parturition and early lactation productivity. When inadequate management is applied during the dry period, the incidence of post calving disorders, including retained placenta, metritis, milk fever, mastitis, ketosis, udder edema, and displaced abomasum may be significantly increased.