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13
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
Veterinary surgeon
Seamus Finnegan
XLVets practice
Armour Veterinary
Centre
Dr Mulligan gave an overview of the nutrition
and production diseases of the transition
cow. Below are some highlights from his
presentation on negative energy balance
(NEB) and body condition scoring, with
comments from XLVets' Seamus Finnegan
of Armour Veterinary Centre in Mauchline,
Ayrshire, who was one of the delegates
at the conference.
Transition cow care
The transition period of the dairy cow is the
period from three weeks before calving to
three weeks after. Dr Mulligan pointed out
that this is an important time in the cow's
production cycle as it is when production
diseases, such as ketosis, milk fever and
LDAs are most likely to occur.
‘Ensuring that cows have the right energy
status and are receiving the appropriate
nutrition and management during this time it
is key to protecting their subsequent health,
fertility and production,’ said Dr Mulligan.
Negative energy balance
Cows enter into a negative energy balance
immediately after calving where the energy
demands of milk production are greater
than the energy intake. During this time,
the cow mobilises her body fat reserves to
meet demand.
Dr Mulligan explained the main consequences
of a negative energy balance were a
suppression of the immune system, clinical
and sub-clinical ketosis (both of which
negatively impact on feed intakes and
increase the risk of displaced abomasum),
reduced milk yield and depressed fertility.
The control strategies for NEB included
genetics, milking frequency and the nutrition
of the cow before and after calving. However,
one of the most important nutritional means
of altering energy balance in the lactation
is by altering her body condition at calving.
Monitoring body
condition scores
The body condition of a cow is a reflection
of her historical energy balance, explained
Dr Mulligan. Subjective visual assessments of
the herd can be made at key points of the
production cycle. Several scoring systems are
available and Dr Mulligan favoured a scale
of 1 to 5 where 1 was emaciated, and
5 was obese.
Dr Mulligan said: ‘In Ireland in March of
2012, because milk production of the Irish
herd was close to the milk quota threshold,
many cows were dried off early. However,
the extended dry period meant that many
became over-conditioned. This reduced feed
intakes in early lactation, and negatively
affected fertility hormones.’
A low body condition score at calving also
has negative effects on health and production.
‘At least 95% of the herd should be calving
with a body condition score (BCS) of at least
2.75,” said Dr Mulligan. ‘Where poor
nutrition and/or health have resulted in a
poorer condition then nutritional anoestrus
and lower milk yield can be expected.’
He recommended that scoring should be
carried out five times in a cow's lactation
cycle; at drying off, at calving, at pre-breeding
examination, when AI-ed, and it was also
vital to check BCS in late lactation, 100 days
prior to being dried off.
TRANSITION COW CARE
Protecting dairy cow
health and production
in the transition period:
assessing negative energy balance
and monitoring body condition
Amongst the presenters at XLVets' annual conference in October last
year, was Dr Finbar Mulligan from the School of Veterinary Medicine,
University College Dublin.
Dr Finbar Mulligan
School of Veterinary
Medicine, University College Dublin
Seamus Finnegan
Armour Veterinary
Centre, Ayrshire