Influence of Dry Period Diet on Early Postpartum Health, Feed Intake, Milk Production, and Reproductive Efficiency of Holstein Cows

Cows were fed one of three rations, containing only alfalfa-grass hay or complete diets of alfalfa and corn silages with 47% or 12% of the dry matter from grain for 30 days prepartum, followed by a single complete ration postpartum. Dry matter consumption, milk production, reproductive efficiency, and incidence of displaced abomasum, retained placenta, mastitis, milk fever, ketosis, metritis, and mammary edema were evaluated. Dry period diets ranging from all hay to a complete ration of 47% grain and 53% ensiled forage had little effect on feed consumption, milk production, and most health traits. Udder edema and California Mastitis Test scores were higher for cows fed a dry period diet of ensiled materials.