80% of dairy cow health problems occur during transition to lactation
Managing the transition to lactation of dairy cows is the key to reach at least 5 lactations, because 80% of health problems occur during the transition period. About 30% of all dairy cows are subject to suffering:
- 30% are wounded
- 20% are lame
- 50% have sole lesions
- 50% have subclinical milk fever
- 26% have mastitis
- 25% suffer from subclinical ketosis
- 20% of cows are being culled in their 1st lactation
Management practices on 50 large Dutch dairy farms was analysed and it was found that:
- 20% carry out a heifer hoof check
- 33% have a dry off group
- 50% have 85 cm feed space per cow
- 50% move cows on straw 10 days before calving
- 20% use a cuddle box