The cow · Feeding
Dry cow nutrition
Dry cow feeding changed a great deal in the 2000s. Steam-up rations gave way to controlled-energy, high-fibre diets, and the question of one dry group or two was tested in trial after trial. The papers here follow that argument, along with work on intake before calving and the prevention of milk fever.
18 papers are filed under this heading. Main sources: Western Dairy Digest, University and extension web documents, Four-State Dairy Nutrition and Management Conference.
Low-energy Diets for Dry Cows: Back to the Future?
Describes pros and cons of feeding low- versus high-energy diets to close-up dry cows.
Transition Cow Dry Matter Intake and Metabolic Disorders
Explores the relationship between prepartum nutrient intake and postpartum metabolic disorders in dairy cows.
Management and Nutrition of Dry Cows
Makes recommendations for the management and nutrition of dry cows.
A new approach to dry cow feediing for better heallth, fertility & performance
Describes a low energy, high fibre feeding strategy for dry cows using straw to increase fibre intake.
Rethinking Energy for Dry Cows
Recommends feeding high-straw, low-energy diets to dry cows.
Do High Grain Close-Up Diets Stimulate Rumen Papillae?
Describes a study designed to determine if rumen papillae grow in response to pre-partum grain feeding.
Zeolite A prevents milk fever
Describes a research trial where Zeolite A, a compound that binds calcium, was used to reduce the availability of feed calcium to dry cows. While control cows developed post-calving hypocalcemia, treated cows did not.
One or Two Dry Cow Diets Revisited
Describes a trial where dry cows were offered either a conventional two diet dry cow program or a close-up diet for the entire dry period.
One or two dry cow groups?
Describes the results of a trial in which cows were fed one or two diets during their dry periods.
One or Two Dry Cow Diets?
Describes a trial which compared feeding a conventional 2-diet dry cow program to one in which a single diet containing significant amounts of non-forage fibre sources was fed.
Feeding Dry Cows
Describes physiological changes that take place during the dry period and explains why the nutrient requirements are increased.
Dry Cow Feeding and Management
Emphasizes the importance of a proper dry period management.
Feeding and Managing Dry Cows
Describes dry period management and nutrient requirement and common metabolic disorders.
Therapeutic nutrition for dairy cattle
Describes many common disorders in dairy cattle and how they are tested, prevented and treated.
New Concepts in Nutritional Management of Dry Cows
Provides recommendations based on research and field experiments on nutritional management of dry cows.
Rumensin's Role in Today's SNF:BF World
Recommends the use of Rumensin CRC boluses for transition cows but suggests that the use of moderate to high inclusion rates in lactation diets may depress milk fat test.
Do We Need Two Close Up Dry Cow Groups?
Examines various feeding management strategies that can impact the nutrient needs, overall management and health of the transition cow.
Yeast Supplements in Dairy Diets
Summarizes results of including yeast in diets fed to calves and cows.