ABSTRACT
The essential event in dairying is the birth of a calf and the transition of the mother cow from gestation and into lactation. While the transition can proceed without incident, it is also a period of substantial risk for many cows. LeBlanc et al. (2006) suggest that 75% of all clinical disease events in a dairy cow’s life occur in the transition period, usually defined as the period three weeks before and after calving. Furthermore, Bradford et al. (2015) conclude that more than 50% of all dairy cows suffer from at least one subclinical disorder, and that essentially all dairy cows undergo a period of subacute inflammation in the early postpartum period.
