Previous Webinar: Setting the cow up for success – Tools for cow recovery post-calving

Watch the webinar recording here
Download the slide deck here
Download the summary here

Webinar summary: Tools for cow recovery post-calving

This webinar focuses on identifying and managing the drivers of rapid post-calving recovery, with a sharp focus on liver health, feed stability, inflammation control, and how blood testing can be used as a tool to fine-tune transition nutrition and support high-performing cows.

In this webinar:

1. What a well-recovered cow looks like

   • High dry matter intake, strong appetite, fast return to rumination, and early peak milk are indicators of good post-calving recovery.
   • Cows should ideally be cycling and producing well within days of calving.

2. Liver function is central to recovery

   • A metabolically active liver (“hot fire”) supports efficient energy production, immune function, and milk yield.
   • Albumin, cholesterol, and glucose are strong indicators of liver performance.
   • Cows with higher liver activity post-calving have better appetite, higher milk yield, and fewer metabolic issues.

3. Inflammation and immune suppression

   • Poorly transitioned cows can show signs of systemic inflammation even without clinical disease.
   • Excess NEFA and BOHB levels contribute to inflammation, liver stress, and reduced reproductive performance.
   • Immunosuppression is often a result of inflammation triggered by fat mobilisation, not just ketosis.

4. Over-conditioned cows underperform

   • Fat cows (BCS >5.2) eat less pre- and post-calving, leading to sluggish liver performance and higher disease risk.
   • Ideal BCS at calving is 4.8–5.2.
   • Cows should not lose condition more than 4 weeks pre-calving.

5. Importance of building muscle, not just fat

   • Research suggests cows with higher pre-calving muscle mass (not just fat) produce more milk post-calving.
   • Protein nutrition in the dry period matters.

6. Matching the transition and colostrum diets

   • Colostrum cows must receive the same feeds as during transition to avoid feed refusal.
   • Offer all feeds ad lib, especially hay, to reduce stress and stimulate rumen function.
   • Prioritise quality and consistency. Avoid changes in feed timing or content post-calving.

7. Monitoring with rumination data

   • Rumination minutes should return to >400 by day 4–5 post-calving.
   • Prolonged drops below 300 indicate issues with transition nutrition, calcium status, or inflammation.
   • Activity and rumination should trend upward together – mismatched trends may signal poor feed balance or energy deficit.

8. Blood testing to guide nutrition decision

   • Bloods should be taken from transition, close-up, colostrum, and milker groups.
   • Core markers: calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, NEFA, BOHB, albumin, cholesterol, GPX (glutathione peroxidase).
     • Optional: glucose, AST, GGT, bilirubin, haptoglobin.
   • Bloods can uncover subclinical problems and help improve feed conversion efficiency.

9. Disease risk is tied to liver stress and antioxidant status

   • Clinical disease (ketosis, mastitis, hypocalcaemia) correlates with poor liver function and low antioxidant capacity.
   • High BOHB and NEFA levels are often present before diseases emerge.
   • Improving antioxidant capacity (e.g. via selenomethionine) can reduce postpartum disease and improve intake and milk yield.

10. Practical tools to grow antioxidant capacity

    • Supplementing with selenomethionine increases GPX and superoxide dismutase activity.
    • Higher antioxidant capacity supports better immune response, liver recovery, and milk production.
    • Tools must be matched with blood monitoring to assess effect.

For more detailed information, watch the webinar or download the slide deck.