Dairy producers know every decision made in the barn echoes across the entire herd. Nutrition is not a one-time choice, it’s a strategy, one that begins before a calf is born and can influence outcomes for generations to come. In an industry where margins are tight and efficiency is everything, dairies are embracing a whole-lifecycle approach to nutrition and management.
The first investment: Nutrition before and after birth
The journey starts long before a heifer enters the milking parlor. In fact, it begins in utero. Maternal nutrition has a direct impact on fetal development and the long-term viability of the calf.1 A well-nourished dam gives her calf a strong start, and what happens in those first hours of life sets the trajectory for future performance.
Calves that receive proper nutritional support from day one – starting with high-quality colostrum or colostrum replacer and transitioning to milk replacer and electrolytes – are likely to meet early growth targets, develop strong immune systems and transition into productive heifers with less health interventions.
Growth and transitions: Where gaps are made or closed
Between weaning and first calving, dairy animals face multiple transitions, including shifts in housing, feed, social structure and management. These points of change are where performance can stall; but with proactive planning, they can become opportunities for acceleration.
Nutrition during this phase should do more than meet basic requirements. It should support rumen development, promote consistent intake and build strength for common stressors. Tools like gut health supplements and high-quality feeds can help fuel growth and support immune health during transitions. This period bridges the gap between calfhood and productive cowhood, and sets first-calf heifers up to contribute from day one in the milking herd.
Maximizing performance through lactation and dry period
The transition into lactation is one of the most critical stages for determining milk yield, reproductive efficiency and herd longevity. Properly balanced nutrition in the pre- and post-calving windows supports body condition, feed intake, colostrum production and immune function, which can result in higher peak milk and improved fertility outcomes.2
Then comes the dry period, often misunderstood as a rest phase. In reality, it’s a preparation phase for both the cow’s next gestation and then lactation. Feed additives and feed supplements and proper nutrition support metabolic function and fetal development during this stage.
From in utero to the dry period, each stage plays a part in shaping the herd’s future. By considering individual stages and embracing nutrition as a continuous, connected process, dairy producers can maximize herd health and performance, generation after generation.
To learn more about Purina Animal Nutrition, Land O’Lakes Animal Milk Solutions and Fortiva’s nutrition offerings to help elevate every stage of a dairy animal’s lifecycle, reach out to your local Purina representative or visit https://www.purinamills.com/commercial-dairy.
References
1 Daley, V. L., Bradley, C.M.K., Genther-Schroeder, O.N. 2024. Effects of synbiotic supplementation to late gestation cows on offspring growth and health.
2 Westhoff T.A., Overton T.R., Mann S. Epidemiology of bovine colostrum production in New York Holstein herds: Prepartum nutrition and metabolic indicators. J Dairy Sci. 2023. 106(7):4896-4905.
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