Managing high-risk fresh cows

Abstract

Although fresh cows are often managed as homogeneous groups, tools are becoming available to identify cows at high risk for specific disease conditions, as well as information which describes cows that are most likely to respond to disease interventions. This approach is particularly applicable to hypocalcemia, because it occurs in a short time window around calving and because it has clear risk factors. New data show that early lactation hypocalcemia clearly reduces milk yield and increases risk for displaced abomasum and early lactation culling. Oral calcium supplementation can be targeted to individual cows. The response to oral calcium bolus supplementation around calving is greatest for cows with higher milk production in the previous lactation and for lame cows.