Additives and Nutritional Supplements for Transition Cows

Peri-partum/transition period is a hypercritical phase with respect to physiological and metabolic adaptions in dairy cows to cope with the growing nutritional demands of the fetus as well as the ensuing lactation immediately post-calving. Hence, nutritional governance during this timescale is of utmost note to deal with any possible ongoing metabolic dysfunctions. Feeding management during transition period regulates the milk yield, subsequent reproductive structure, overall well-being of the animal and consequently economic returns to dairy enterprises. While the milk yield peaks around 4–8 weeks post-partum, the dry matter intake starts increasing gradually and peaks around 10–15 weeks post-partum, and thus creating a 6–8 week stretch of negative energy balance. Besides managing energy status, the present chapter identifies a range of additives and supplements critical for integrated nutritional management to successfully transition dairy cows through multifactorial peri-parturient stress. Furthermore, the practical insights on the necessary nutritional strategies of both pre- and post-partum transition are dealt in a comprehensive way.