Dry Cows

The dry period is crucial and should be seen as 8 weeks of recuperation and preparation for a productive lactation.
Aim to dry cows off at condition score 2 - 2.5 and ensure they are calving around 2.5, cows over condition score 3 have more problems at calving and in early lactation. Cows in the early dry period, 0 – 4 weeks, should only need forage and a standard mineral, with sufficient vitamins and trace elements. Ensure that the cows are not gaining too much condition. Use the quality rather than the quantity of the forage to ensure they don’t get too fat. Keeping cows short of grass or silage and feeding straw is a useful way to manage the live weight gain.

In the close up period, week 5 – calving, ensure that they are eating 12 – 15kg of dry matter per day. This must include the forage(s) they will get in early lactation and 2-3kg of good concentrate like “ECV Dry Cow Primer Lac”. This increases the energy density of the diet to compensate for dropping appetite and prepares the rumen for the lactating diet and stimulates an increase in surface area of rumen lining.


ECV Dry Cow Primer Lac
Quality compound designed for the dry cow. Feed 2 – 3 kg/cow per day in the last 4 weeks before calving

ECV Dry Cow Mineral
Available in 25 kg bags for in-feed or free access, feed 100-200g in the last 4 weeks before calving.
• Low calcium to help mobilise body resources
• Exceptional vitamin E
• Extra selenium