British Cattle Veterinary Association

The term 'nutrition related disease' of the dairy cow encompasses the complex of metabolic, peri-parturient and production related diseases that affect the cow due to her failure to cope with the metabolic demands of the calving event and subsequent milk production. Good nutritional management of the dry cow through calving and into early lactation cow is key to reducing unnecessary cow and production losses. Dry cow nutrition strategy determines metabolic stability, immune status and rumen function on entering the lactation phase. The Keenan Controlled Energy Hi-Fibre (CEHF) dry cow strategy is widely practised in many countries with different cow management systems.