Newly calved cows
Evaluation
The cut-off values suggested are based on recommendations in Sweden. Find out which recommendations apply in your country.
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Preventive hoof trimming around drying off
Yes
No
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Preventive hoof trimming of heifers 1–3 months before first calving
Yes
No
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Separate group for newly calved cows to reduce competition
Yes
No
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Soft floors where newly calved cows have to stand, e.g. at the feeding alley and in the holding pen/waiting area
Yes
No
For best results
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Keep newly calved cows in prioritised groups, if possible, keep primiparous and multiparous cows separate.
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Rubber mats on solid and slatted floors in the areas for newly calved cows.
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Stress-free animal handling when moving animals and move at least pairwise.
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Plan so that cows in the early stages of lactation spend as little time as possible in holding pens or waiting area.
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Introduce heifer to the milking group and the cow housing before calving, but not in the last three weeks before expected calving.
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Keep primiparous cows in a prioritised group with rubber flooring when they are introduced to the dairy cow housing in order to ease the transition to a harder surface.
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Make sure that the claw shape is optimal around calving, with weight bearing on the wall, by performing preventive hoof trimming at drying off or 1–3 months before expected calving.
Tips!
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Do not fetch newly calved cows to the holding pen/waiting area for automatic milking if there is a risk of them not moving through easily.
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By using the "low stress stock handling" method, animals can be handled, separated and moved without being subjected to unnecessary stress.
Watch videos on animal handling:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQF3gzXh2MNhCviLdpo-11ejxQLLAFQBS