30. The dry off process for lactating dairy cows. Part One

“Drying off” lactating dairy cows is the process of successfully and efficiently closing down the lactation process in readiness for the dry period – a time of rest and recuperation for not only the cow but also her hard-working milk secretory cells in her udder.

In this, part one of a two-part series about drying off dairy cows, we explore the basics of just why the cow and her udder deserve a well-earned break over the dry period. What “good” might look like for the ideal dry-off process is defined, and the role (or not) for gradual step down from twice-a-day to once-a-day milking before the dry off process.

The second part of this two-part series (Episode 31) covers the role for nutrition in the dry off process for lactating cows.

Search within this current Episode 30 for topics of interest if you've not got time to listen to the entire episode: 

1.00 Just what do we mean by the term “drying off” of dairy cows?

1.40 Introduction around what will be covered in this podcast

5.22 The “why” around the need for a dry period for lactating cows

7.55 Fitting in lactation and dry periods within 365 days in seasonal calving systems

10.05 Do New Zealand cows gain any benefits of our relatively long dry period of 90 days vs. shorter dry periods?

11.18 The benefits of a dry period for both the cow and her udder

14.00 What might happen if a cow doesn’t have a dry period at all?

18.10 Defining the outcome “what does a good dry off process look like?”

25.18 Setting up paddocks to dry off on

27.40 The two approaches to dry off 1) Reduce nutrient supply to the cow and / or 2) Reduce milking frequency from twice to once a day before dry off

34.20 Things to consider before deciding if a short period of once-a-day milking might be useful before dry off for your twice-a-day milked cows

37.00 Abrupt dry off (and not stepping cows from twice to once-a-day) remains the default recommendation for most dairy herds in New Zealand

38.30 Why “skip-a-day” milking before dry off is NOT recommended under any circumstances