Measure twice, dry once — AHI's top 10 tips for a successful dry cow period

The dry period is one of the most important phases in the dairy calendar, writes Dr Finola McCoy, AHI CellCheck Programme Manager, as she shares her top 10 tips to get your herd off to the right start for the next lactation

Clean and disinfect each teat thoroughly before inserting any tube. 

A well-managed dry period protects udder health, supports cow recovery and reduces the risk of mastitis in early lactation.

Somatic cell count (SCC) remains a vital indicator of udder health and is central to decisions made at drying off, with long-term consequences for performance.