It’s easy to pay close attention to nutrition and management when cows are putting milk in the bulk tank. But typically, dairy cows tend to receive less attention during the dry period when, in reality, the next lactation begins at dry-off. For decades, the dry period was viewed as a rest stop — an inactive period following a long lactation. Research reveals nutrition and management during the dry period are key factors in rejuvenating the cow for the next lactation. The care given to cows during the dry period will dictate productivity of the next lactation. Inattentive management and a less than optimal nutrition program during the dry period can be a costly mistake.

Physiological Changes that Occur During the Dry Period

• Regeneration of mammary tissue lost during the previous lactation.

• Nutritional demand for fetal growth — 60% of fetal growth occurs during the last two months of gestation. Nutrients will be drawn from the cow’s body if sufficient amounts of nutrients are not provided via the diet.

• Limited feed intake — Due to the rapidly growing fetus and hormonal changes, physiological feed intake limitations occur.

Transitioning cows from the dry period to lactation may seem overwhelming given the number of factors that influence milk production level and cow health.

Proper nutrition is essential to minimize calving difficulties and metabolic disorders while maximizing milk production, reproductive efficiency, and disease resistance. Cows that receive the correct balance of nutrients are better able to handle the stress of early lactation.

ADM Alliance Nutrition’s Dairy Solutions^® Dry & Transition Cow System delivers the right nutrients in the right balance at the right time for the right results.
Dry and transition dairy cows have specific nutritional demands dependent on closeness to freshening. The Dairy Solutions Dry & Transition Cow System of products are formulated based upon extensive research defining specific needs of the respective phases of the dry period.

Proper nutrition is essential in minimizing calving difficulties, metabolic disorders, and reproductive inefficiencies, while maximizing the potential for optimal milk production and disease resistance.

The transition cow has unique nutritional needs which must be met to maintain calcium status and overcome energy imbalances associated with reduced dry matter intake and the lactation demand placed on her at the time of freshening. The Dairy Solutions Dry & Transition Cow System provides a diversified line of products to accomodate the specific needs of the transition cow. With features including anionic salt options, rumen undegradable protein, complexed trace minerals, Prosponse® yeast, sugars, and glucose precursors, Alliance Nutrition can help dairy cows make the critical transition from dry cow to productive lactating cow a profitable one for producers.

Better cow health post-calving will pay dividends by improving reproductive efficiency, reducing days open, reducing reproductive culls, optimizing feed intake, and maximizing milk production potential.

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Dairy Solutions Dry Cow Products

• Dry Cow Mineral NL  — 0.3 lb/hd/day; supports the special mineral needs of dry cows consuming non-legume based diets.
   

• Dry Cow Mineral PL — 0.3 lb/hd/day; supports the special mineral needs of dry cows consuming partial-legume based diets.
   

• Dry Cow Tub  — 1.5 lb/hd/day; 200 lb tub manufactured using condensed distillers solubles tub technology; provides protein, minerals, and vitamins needed by far-off dry cows in a convenient form.
   

• Dry Cow Concentrate 35  — 1 lb/hd/day; 35% protein, highly palatable, concentrated supplement.
   

• Dry Cow Dri-trate^® Plus  — 1 lb/hd/day; 45% protein, highly palatable, concentrated supplement.
   

• Dry Cow Balancer  — 2 lb/hd/day; 16% protein, highly palatable supplement.
   

• Certified Organic Dry Cow Mineral PL with Salt — 0.3 lb/hd/day; supports the special mineral needs of dry cows consuming partial-legume diets for herds producing milk under organic management practices.

Dairy Solutions^® Transition Cow Products

• Transition Cow MP — 3 lb/hd/day; specifically formulated with bypass protein, minerals (macro and trace), and vitamins to supplement the nutrient needs of dairy cows transitioning through the last two-three weeks pre-calving and during the first few weeks of lactation. It contains special glucose precursors to assist in minimizing post-calving metabolic disorders and a proprietary sugar blend to enhance intake.

• Transition Cow MP Plus — 3 lb/hd/day; specifically formulated with bypass protein, minerals (macro and trace), and vitamins to supplement the nutrient needs of dairy cows transitioning through the last two-three weeks pre-calving and during the first few weeks of lactation. It contains special glucose precursors with added complexed trace minerals to assist in minimizing post-calving metabolic disorders and a proprietary sugar blend to enhance intake. In addition, Transition Cow MP Plus has Prosponse® Yeast to help enhance intake and rumen function, Stimerall® as a source of rumen-available methionine, cobalt glucoheptanate for fiber digestion and natural-source vitamin E which provides a highly bioavailable antioxidant source to support the immune system.
   

• Anion Concentrate  — 3 lb/hd/day; specially formulated anion-cation balanced, 26% protein, highly fortified product; helps minimize metabolic disorders associated with subclinical hypocalcemia.
   

• Anion Complete LI  — 5 lb/hd/day; specially formulated anion-cation balanced, 20% protein, highly fortified grain mix; helps minimize metabolic disorders associated with subclinical hypocalcemia. In some feeding situations, additional energy (grain) source
  may be needed.
   

• Anion Complete HI  — 10 lb/hd/day; specially formulated anion-cation balanced, 16% protein, highly fortified grain mix; helps minimize metabolic disorders associated with subclinical hypocalcemia.

Alliance^® Animal Health Transition Cow Products

• Transition Starter Pak III — 1-1.5 lb/hd/day; specifically designed to provide glucose precursor, sugars, Prosponse® yeast, and natural flavor. A quick release form of energy, such as glucose precursor, is beneficial in helping minimize ketosis challenges in early lactation.
   

• Response PG — 0.4-0.75 lb/hd/day; specifically designed to provide propylene glycol, a glucose precursor, and Prosponse yeast. A quick release form of energy, such as propylene glycol, is beneficial in helping minimize ketosis challenges in early lactation. Provides 55% propylene glycol in feed form.
   

• Reashure®*  — 2 oz/hd/day; provides a source of rumen stable encapsulated choline chloride, which is beneficial in fat transport and metabolism.
   

• Pre Fresh Pak  — 1 lb/hd/day; provides a blend of anionic salts to help minimize metabolic disorders associated with subclinical hypocalcemia.
   

• Prosponse Nutrium – 2 oz/hd/day; a unique combination of yeast, beneficial live bacteria, and fiber-digesting enzymes. Enhances feed intake, rumen function and digestion, which yield better production response.
   

• NutraTHIRST™ – mix 2 lb with 5-7 gallons of warm (110°F) water immediately after calving. Highly palatable as first drink after calving. Provides more sources of each nutrient than other drenches. Minimizes the need to manually drench fresh cows.

*Not a trademark of ADM.