Dry period strategy

The dry period allows the cow to prepare for the next lactation. During these few weeks, the cow can recover from the previous lactation and get ready for the next one. This preparation period is very important for milk production and fertility during the following lactation. The difference between a successful and an unsuccessful dry period can be as much as 2000 kg of milk. The dry period is also the time when the calf puts on most growth.

What happens during the dry period?

Calcium and energy are removed from cows during the milking period. This keeps the energy and calcium metabolism going. When the cow is dried off, milk production stops and so does energy and calcium loss. The calcium and energy metabolism go into ‘vacation mode’.

Why is it important to give cows good support during the dry period?

As soon as a cow calves, these metabolic systems must suddenly return to their maximum level. If the cow cannot take in enough energy and calcium from the feed, there will be a direct impact on her milk production, fertility and resistance, resulting in metabolic disorders such as ketosis, milk fever and retained placenta.

Bio-Chlor stimulates the cow's metabolism during the dry period

Feeding Bio-Chlor as part of the VH dry period concept stimulates the cow's metabolic systems. Bio-Chlor is a very palatable, easily digestible and extremely high-quality product which stimulates the cow's feed intake and energy metabolism during the dry period. In practice, cows treated with Bio-Chlor consume around 14 kg of dry matter per day. The average in the Netherlands is between 10 and 11 kg. The general rule is that for every extra kilogram of dry matter that the cow eats on the day before calving, it will also eat this amount on the day after calving. In practice, this means an additional intake of 20,7 to 27,6 MJ Nel.

Bio-Chlor stimulates the calcium metabolism

Bio-Chlor is also highly anionic. When a cow consumes this product, its blood receives a slight negative charge. The blood naturally wants its values to be neutral all the time, so hydrogen ions (H+) are used to restore the charge to neutral. The hydrogen ions are excreted in the urine. The space created by the excreted hydrogen ions must naturally be filled, and the cow does this with calcium. This stimulates the calcium metabolism so it is no longer in ‘vacation mode’.

In short, the VH dry period concept stimulates feed and calcium intake, helping to get the lactation off to a good, healthy start with plenty of milk.