Dry period

The dry period is the rest between lactations, during which the udder tissue is renewed. Sixty days has long been the standard length. It is commonly divided into a far-off phase and a close-up phase covering the last three weeks before calving.

Whether cows need one ration or two through this time has been the subject of a good deal of trial work, much of it catalogued in this library.

Written for the 2026 edition of the library.