Calving is a risky period, both for the cow and the calf. There are however several things that can be done to ensure a smooth calving process, preparing the calf for a good start of the rearing period and the cow for a successful lactation.

• Stress-free calving facilities
• Good hygiene in calving area
• Allow time for an adjustment to the calving area
• Provide care for the calf and cow immediately after birth
• Optimize cow’s dry matter intake for the first 7-10 days after birth

During the last two weeks of gestation, the dry matter intake of cows goes down while their energy requirements go up, as a result of growth of the calf and the start of colostrum production. In the first few weeks after calving, milk production increases faster than dry matter intake does. As a result, dairy cows will be in negative energy balance. This could potentially lead to subclinical or clinical ketosis. Managing the Body Condition Score correctly throughout lactation can help reduce the possibility of cows going into negative energy balance.

Hypocalcaemia is the medical term for milk fever. Cows with blood calcium levels below 2.0 mmol/l without clinical signs are classified as suffering from subclinical milk fever, cows with blood calcium levels below 2.0 mmol/l with clinical signs are classified as suffering from clinical milk fever. The problem of subclinical milk fever is often underestimated, for every cow in the herd with clinical milk fever, there are another 4 cows with subclinical milk fever.

There are a number of management measures that can reduce the incidence of subclinical and clinical milk fever:

• Manage BCS
• Ensure calving is hygienic and stress free
• Optimize dry matter intake around calving
• Provide extra calcium after calving