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Springers: repro ready

The three weeks before calving is the time to get springers ready for lactation and mating. Getting their nutrition right is the key to getting more cows in calf, sooner; having fewer health problems at calving and setting up for a highly productive lactation.

Feed a balanced transition diet to cows and heifers for 21 days before calving

A successful transition feeding program helps:

  • Prevent milk fever
  • Reduce RFMs, assisted calvings and vaginal discharge
  • Reduce acidosis, ketosis and lameness
  • Save time and money spent on treating sick and downer cows
  • Increase in-calf rates
  • Increase milk production

A transition feeding program can cost between $20 and $60 per cow and return up to $200 per cow.

A balanced transition diet

A balanced transition diet must have the right amount of energy, protein, fibre, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and trace elements and the right DCAD level.

DCAD is the Difference between the Cations (sodium and potassium) and the Anions (chloride and sulphur) in the Diet. 

Work with a nutritionist to get the balance right for your herd.

What to feed springers

Springing cows require 100-120 MJ ME per day. To achieve this, the feed needs to contain about 11 MJ ME/kg DM and 14-16% protein. Fibre is also needed to keep acidosis under control.

As a rule of thumb, feed half the amount of grain or concentrate fed to the milkers and in the same form (e.g. pellets or loose feed). Don’t feed the springers the milker ration or feed that contains sodium bicarbonate. This feed is unsuitable for springers and will increase the milk fever risk.

Key resources

Dairy Australia’s Grains2Milk and InCalf projects have developed new resources for use by farmers and advisers in managing transition cow programs.

Springers: repro ready booklet 
Transition cow management checklist 
Transition program review sheet
Cow health problems at calving tally sheet
Transition diet milk fever risk calculator
Transition Cow Management: A review for nutrition professionals, vets & farm advisers
Transition cow management articles
Body condition and nutrition from The InCalf Book 
The Condition Magician 

To order free copies of the Springers: repro ready booklet – print out and fax back this order form.

Farmer case studies

Ten years without milk fever
Rumen ready rather than run ragged 
Low effort lead feeding 
Information is power