Here are some ways to help improve early lactation performance as well as peak milk yield.

1) Make sure dry period is successful

• Studies have shown that dry period nutrition affects the health and performance after birth.

• Some of the key goals during dry period is:

• Maintaining dry matter intake of around 30 pounds per day.

• Avoid overfeeding.

• Make sure cows are comfortable.

• Ensure hoof health is healthy

2) Optimize feed intake immediately after calving

• Provide around 10 to 15 gallons of warm water with drinkable drench.

• Allow the cows to have access to fresh total mixed ration.

• Feed the cows at least 5 to 10 pounds of fresh alfalfa hay.

• Ensure the feed bunks are clean at all times.

3) Make sure cows are comfortable

• Use stocking rate of about 80%.

• Keep the cows in a fresh cow group for 14 - 21 days.

• Provide 30 - 36 inches of bunk space per cow.

• Avoid having the cows separated from the normal herd mates.

4) Evaluate BCS

• Target BCS is 3.0 - 3.25.

• You should avoid having any cows with BCS greater than 4.

• A lower BCS at calving will allow some safety margin to avoid overweight cows.

• If the cow is overweight, there may be a higher risk of ketosis and fatty liver.

• The reproductive health may also decrease.

5) Feed additives

• It is recommended to feed additives to the herd.

• Supplement protected fat to increase energy intake.

• Yeast culture helps to stabilize rumen fermentation.

• Rumen protected choline helps to improve liver health and function.

• Ionophores increases glucose availability.