Transition cow management: Why it pays to ensure your cows are ‘fit, not fat’

The term ‘transition cow’ is often discussed among industry insiders, but what does this really look like on-farm, and what steps can herd manages take to ensure all goes smoothly?

The term 'transition cow' refers to the three weeks before calving and the three weeks after calving. Getting conditions right during this period can set the cow up for the entire lactation cycle, writes InTouch feeding specialist Thomas O'Sullivan.

As we round off February, calving season is well near its peak on farms across the country. The focus on most farms now should be trying to ensure that cows are set up well to drive on milk production at this stage of the lactation, which is where the best opportunity is.

Transition cow management