Transition period and its importance

A transition period is the four weeks before and post-calving and is the most crucial period in the productive cycle of dairy cows, characterized by greatly disturbing the homeostasis and manifests in an increased risk of disease. Transition is to overwhelm the important physiological, metabolic, and nutritional changes occurring during this period. It is the turning point in the productive cycle of cows from one lactation to the next. There occur several profound physiological changes that modify her metabolism drastically. Increasing demands of the fetus, development of the mammary glands, and synthesis of milk constituents are responsible causes for these changes. Their effective management is of prime importance and serves as a major platform to boost cow health, milk production, reproductive potential, and thereby profitability. The transition mismanagement can precipitate the conditions that are often intricate, inter-related and include:

• Hypocalcemia and downer cows
• Hypomagnesaemia
• Fatty liver and ketosis
• Udder ede