Behind a Successful Lactation is a Proper Dry-off

We’ve learned that managing dry cows pays dividends down the line. How the cow moves through the dry period influences her production, health, ability to become pregnant again and ability to stay in the herd. So how can we help cows stay comfortable and healthy through the dry period? AABP Executive Director Dr. Fred Gingrich is joined by Dr. Luciano Caixeta from the University of Minnesota and Dr. Curt Vlietstra from Boehringer Ingelheim to discuss a new way to help dairy cows transition into the dry period. Boehringer Ingelheim is one of our premier sponsors of the AABP Annual and Recent Graduate conferences by sponsoring the welcome receptions, Bovine Practitioner of the Year Award and the Stampede 5k run. Thank you BI for your support of AABP!

 Veterinarians help dairy producers minimize the stress and challenges associated with changes the cow experiences during the lactation cycle. One of these challenges associated with cessation of milking is the fact that many cows have a high level of production at dry off. Bovikalc Dry is an acidogenic mineral bolus with three active ingredients that lowers the pH of the cow. Two boluses are given to cows at or immediately before dry off to quickly decrease milk synthesis at the udder level which decreases udder pressure and leakage. It also causes a mild decrease in intake which prepares the cow for the lower intakes during the dry period. Caixeta discusses research conducted on Bovikalc Dry. Results of this study demonstrated that between the two treatment groups, there was a significant decrease in somatic cell count the first month of lactation in the Bovikalc Dry treatment group, lower clinical mastitis risk, decreased new intramammary infection rate during the dry period, and tendency for increased lying time with no difference in rumination behavior or milk production. He also demonstrated a 2.5 to 3X return on investment with an average return of $43 per cow. 

 To learn more about Bovikalc Dry and Boehringer Ingelheim visit https://bi-animalhealth.com/cattle/products/bovikalc-dry/. To see a video on the use of Bovikalc Dry and how to decrease the stress of dry off, visit this link. 

 Link to publication:

Effects of oral administration of acidogenic boluses at dry-off on performance and behavior of dairy cattle. Maynou, G., Elcoso, G., Bubeck, J., & Bach, A. (2018). Journal of dairy science, 101(12), 11342-11353. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-15058