Date: 17/08/26
REAL-TIME DRY COW MONITORING CAN PROTECT THE NEXT LACTATION
Dairy farmers are being encouraged to analyse health and behaviour data more closely during the dry cow period, as issues at this stage can provide an early warning of potential health, fertility and performance problems in the next lactation. By prioritising dry cows and utilising real-time data, farmers and their vets can move from reactive treatment to earlier, evidence-led intervention. Dr Kerstin Duncker, smaXtec veterinarian, says dry cow are often the most underestimated group on the farm, despite the major influence dry-period management can have on postpartum health. “Dry cows should be the princesses; they are the most important animals on the farm and, in my opinion, they’re still often not given the attention they require,” she says. Monitoring total water intake, internal body temperature and rumination particularly can help farmers and their vets move from reactive treatment to earlier, evidence-led intervention. “It is about less gut feeling and more data-driven decisions,” says Dr Duncker. Water and feed intake are closely linked and reduced dry matter intake during the dry period can have a major influence on health after calving.
Dry cows should typically drink around 60 to 70 litres of water a day. On one client’s farm, some were drinking just 22 litres a day, which was contributing to significant ketosis problems in early lactation.
“Ketosis is usually the start of everything that comes after that, including metritis, ovarian cysts, lower milk yields and mastitis,” she says.
Rumination patterns can also highlight cows coming under pressure. Low rumination curves or repeated rises and falls during the dry period may indicate an increased risk of fertility and metabolic problems in the following lactation.
Heat stress can add further pressure, particularly when cows are dried off. Heat-stressed cows may spend more time standing and less time lying, increasing lameness risk, while impaired intake can contribute to ketosis and poorer uterine health.
The effects can also extend to calves, which may be born lighter, absorb less colostral IgG and show weaker immunity and slower growth. Controlled studies suggest the impact can persist into adulthood, with poorer survival and fertility, shorter productive lives and around 5kg less milk per day during the first lactation.
The smaXtec bolus system continuously collects health and behaviour data from within the cow’s reticulum, with information available through an app or web dashboard. Changes in water intake and rumination can be identified within the first 12-24 hours, giving vets and farmers an earlier indication that cows may be coming under pressure.
The data can also help assess whether management changes, such as improved ventilation, sprinklers, ration adjustments or increased water access, are having the intended effect.
“The dry period is not a holiday – it’s the training camp for the next lactation,” says Dr Duncker.
“Every decision made during the dry period can influence the cow’s health, fertility, immune function and productivity throughout the next lactation, making dry-cow management a worthwhile investment.”
Source: press release issued by BELLA.