TDK conference 2017

The conventional lenght of dry- off period in dairy cattle farming is 60 days, during this period abscence of milking and special feeding is performed. Several studies had focus on decreasing the lenght of the dry period, and based on literature data the shortening is possible, but a small dry period must be kept. The advantage of shortened dry period would be the economical advantage in longer milk production.

In our study, which was carried out in a hungarian large-scale dairy farm, fresh cow monitoring examinations were performed based on metabolic profiling of freshly calved animals. We hypothetized, that we will find difference in different dry- off length animals in some selected metabolic parameters, in the occurrence of peripartal clinical diseases, in some milk production parameters as well as in postpartum reproductive parameters. Our retrospective data collection showed that planned, 57-63 days dry off period was reached in around half of the study animals. During our data collection we divided the cows either shorter or longer and equal than 58 days dry- off period.

During our study we sampled 10% of the freshly calved cows (n=164) in order to perform metabolic profile testing. Besides the blood biochemistry measurements (BUN, BHB, NEFA, TG, Ca, Na, P, K), we collected data regarding to postpartum clinical diseases (LDA, PM, mastitis, lameness, RFM, hypocalcaemia) as well as to milk production parameters, as well as to some selected reproductive parameters.

During data analysis we analysed 100 cows data with a parity higher than one. Binary logistic regression revealed statistical significant result (p<0,05), regarding to occurrence of puerperal metritis (p=0.0126; OR=0.25), in case of Na (p=0.01; OR=0.77) and K (p=0.04; OR=1.07) blood concentrations. The analysis of every other selected parameter revealed non-significant result.

As a result of our study we can conclude, that shortening the dry period of dairy cows did show some significant change in the occurrence of clinical diseases postpartum and some selected metabolic parameters in the blood. However, literature data are not consistent with our findings, further research must be carried out, mainly in accordance with the blood biochemistry parameters. As a final conclusion, shortened dry period can be advised in our dairy farms.