Dry Cow Management
What is it?
Symptoms
- Increased cases of mastitis
- Weight loss or poor body condition
- Lower milk production
- Increased metabolic disease, like ketosis and down cows
- Increase rates of lameness
At a glance
Dry cow management is the plan from dry-off to calving that helps cows calve in the right condition. It also sets them up for better recovery and avoiding preventable health issues after calving. Aim for a 50–70-day dry period (minimum 45 days) and target BCS 4.8–5.2 at calving.
Start with these checks:
- Are most cows getting 50–70 days dry, and not less than 45 days?
- Are cows tracking towards BCS 4.8–5.2 at calving, with light cows separated early?
- Is the diet built on fibre (aim NDF above 45%) and consistent day to day?
- Is protein adequate (guide 12–14% crude protein), especially on crop-based wintering?
- Are minerals being delivered in a way that every cow actually eats, every day?
- If you need help checking your plan, talk with your Agvance consultant
If you need help checking your plan, talk with your Agvance consultant.
What you might notice on-farm
You often won’t see dry cow issues until later, when calving begins and your cows move into early lactation.
Common signs of issues include:
- More cows calving light or heavy than usual
- A bigger spread in condition within the mob
- More slow starters post-calving (low appetite, slow rumen fill, slow recovery)
- More retained placenta, milk fever, ketosis patterns
- Higher mastitis risk in early lactation and higher SCC carry-over
- Calves that look lighter or are slower to get going
Dry cows are meant to be “boring”. If they are not boring, something isn’t right.
What good looks like
Recommended targets for good dry cow management:
- Dry period length of 50-70 days (45-day minimum and 80-day maximum)
- Condition at calving of BCS 4.8–5.2
- 45% NDF as a guide for your fibre base
- 12–14% crude protein as a guide
These are starting points. Your feed supply, wintering system, pasture, crops, walk, weather, and mob pressure change the final plan.
Follow these quick checklists
What to do today
- Check the dry-off dates and confirm the mob will mostly be within the 50–70 day window.
- Do a quick condition check and split the mob:
- Light cows first
- Target cows
- Heavy cows
- Look at the base feed and ask:
- Is there enough fibre for rumen fill and steady rumination? (NDF guide >45%)
- Is the diet steady, or are cows bouncing between big and small days?
- Confirm mineral delivery:
- Where is it going in the ration?
- Who might be missing it (shy feeders, low rank cows)?
- Is it being fed at the time the cows are most likely to eat?
What to do this week
- Get at least one feed test if you are making decisions from “looks about right”.
- Re-check the condition trend and adjust early. Don’t wait until three weeks before calving.
- Make sure water, resting area, and feed access reduce competition and stress.
Before calving
- Have a clear transition plan for the final weeks, including mineral and DCAD decisions.
- Confirm all staff know the priority list, which should be light cows, heifers, and any cows that have had a tough season.
Issues, likely causes and where to start
If cows are losing condition during the dry period
- There’s not enough total intake (feed access, weather, walk)
- The diet is too low in energy for the mob’s needs
- A poor fibre balance leading to unstable intake patterns
- There’s high parasite burden or other underlying health situations
- Split the mob and check feed access
- Test the feed and check intake
- Review how the minerals are delivered and whether shy cows are missing out
If cows are gaining condition too fast or getting heavy
- They’re getting too much low-fibre, high-energy feed
- The diet is too energy-dense for the stage they’re in
- Heavy cows are not being managed separately
- Separate heavy cows and lower the energy density in their diet
- Keep fibre strong and keep the routine consistent
- Concentrate on what the trend shows you, not individual scores
If early lactation mastitis and SCC carry-over are up
- Dry-off and early dry period issues (teat canal risk period)
- Infections carried through the dry period
- Poor recovery time because the dry period was too short
- Stress and inconsistent nutrition in the late dry period
- Review your dry-off process and hygiene with your vet
- Check dry period length and condition
- Check mineral support for immune function through the dry period
If more cows are down or slow after calving
-
- Calcium and magnesium management
- Energy balance and intake drop around calving
- Heifers or light cows were underfed in the lead-up
- Gaps in the mineral and feed delivery
- Treat it as a system issue, not “a run of bad luck”
- Review your mineral plan, feed access, and cow condition trend
- Involve your vet early if the pattern is building
When to call the vet
- Down cows that are not responding quickly to treatment
- A clear pattern of milk fever, retained placenta, ketosis, or unexplained deaths
- Mastitis spikes around dry-off or just after calving
- Calving injuries or cows not cleaning that are above your normal baseline
How minerals fit in
How to make minerals work on-farm
- Match your delivery method to your system, whether that be in-feed, water soluble, in-shed, or free choice, based on what will be taken consistently.
- Protect any shy feeders by putting minerals into the feed component most reliably eaten, at the time cows are most hungry.
- Go beyond “in theory”. The numbers on paper don’t matter if the cows are sorting, missing it, or not getting access to the mineral being fed.
- Use custom blends to balance the full ration when feeds are “out of the ordinary”. Fodder beet and brassicas can be high-energy and low-protein, and mineral gaps shift through wintering systems.
These are starting points. Your feed supply, wintering system, pasture, crops, walk, weather, and mob pressure change the final plan.
FAQs
How long should the dry period be?
What condition score should cows calve at?
A common target is BCS 4.8–5.2 at calving. Use mob splits to keep light and heavy cows from dragging the average in opposite directions.
Why does fibre matter for dry cows?
Fibre supports rumen fill and steady rumination. It helps keep intake consistent, which is a big part of keeping cows stable heading into calving. A practical guide is keeping the diet above 45% NDF.
What protein level should dry cow diets sit at?
A common guide is 12–14% crude protein, then adjust for your feeds, crops, and cow condition trends. This matters on winter crops that can be low in protein.
Can I put condition on cows during the dry period?
Yes, but do it early and do it with a plan. Leave it late and you tend to get more uneven cows, heavy cows, and problems at calving.
What changes if we are wintering on fodder beet or brassicas?
Crop-based wintering can shift the nutrition balance quickly, especially protein and minerals. The answer is to build a balanced ration with enough fibre, a suitable protein source, and a mineral plan matched to your delivery system.
Why does udder health link back to the dry period?
The udder goes through shutdown, recovery, and then colostrum development in the final weeks pre-calving. If recovery time is cut short or cows are under pressure, mastitis risk can increase and colostrum quality can be affected.
Do I need a different mineral plan for light cows?
Often, yes. Light cows have less buffer and can fall behind quickly. Separate mobs make it easier to feed to requirements and get better compliance.
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