Gerry Higgins, System Specialist with Richard Keenan and Company outlines the main the priorities for getting the most out of the dry cow. The body condition score (BCS) that the cow carries into ...

Obviously, body condition and dry cow tube withdrawal will also be factors ... It is an opportunity to adjust and maintain body condition score (BCS). Ideally, dry cows off in the right condition ...

“The dry cow ration is based mainly on chopped straw ... In order to bring body condition scores (BCS) back to 3, a late-lactation management group was set up. “In the body condition group ...

It is worth noting that from dry-off to the post-calving period, the target is that cows should not lose more than 0.5 BCS. Anything beyond this indicates nutritional imbalances within the cow.

That 0.5 BCS could be gained by feeding the cow 65kg PKE in a dry period, which at $270/tonne and 15 per cent wastage would cost $20, leaving a net gain of $36. For a 300-cow herd calving at 4.5 ...

Freshly calved cows require around double the energy of a dry cow ... feeding will help if the cow is losing condition. Body condition score: A heifer’s BCS is likely to suffer significantly ...

“At £5 per day extended calving interval, the cost of these cows being under condition was £40 per cow which means there is a good potential ROI on managing condition.” The trial also assessed BCS ...

Feeding to gain BCS To gain one BCS above maintenance requirements a Friesian cow will need to eat 160kg dry matter (DM) grass silage, 160kg DM maize silage or 125kg DM of PKE. The following is ...

cows should gain or lose approximately 7% of their BCS 5 weight. For example, a cow that weighs 1,200 pounds at a BCS 5 should reach a BCS of 6 at 1,284 pounds, or drop to a BCS 4 at 1,116 pounds.

The aim is to maintain body condition score (BCS), assuming the cows have dried off in the correct body condition ranges. Dry matter intakes will vary from 1.5% to 2.0% of the cow's body weight.