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Case Report

Metabolic Disorders in Transition Dairy Cows in a 500-Cow Herd—Analysis, Prevention and Follow-Up

by
Melanie Schären-Bannert
1,*,
Benno Waurich
2,
Fanny Rachidi
1,
Adriana Wöckel
1,
Wolf Wippermann
1,
Julia Wittich
3,
Guntram Hermenau
3,
Erik Bannert
4,
Peter Hufe
3,
Detlef May
3,
Sven Dänicke
4,
Hermann Swalve
2 and
Alexander Starke
1
1
Clinic for Ruminants and Swine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
2
Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, University of Halle, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
3
LVAT—Institute for Animal Breeding and Husbandry, 14550 Groß Kreutz, Germany
4
Institute for Animal Nutrition, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, 38116 Brunswick, Germany
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Dairy 2025, 6(5), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy6050049
Submission received: 28 June 2025 / Revised: 15 August 2025 / Accepted: 20 August 2025 / Published: 1 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Topic Precision Feeding and Management of Farm Animals, 3rd Edition)
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Abstract

Managing transition cows and preventing diseases related to this period is challenging due to the latter’s multifactorial nature. The aim of this applied observational case study is to illustrate and discuss the different aspects involved and provide an approach to analysis and the resulting management solutions using a real-life case within a 500-cow herd. The initial assessment, involving the collection of data on the level of production, animal health and behaviour, and metabolic indicators, as well as management and housing key indicators, revealed key risk factors, including overcrowding, suboptimal feeding strategies, inadequate water supply, and insufficient disease monitoring. These factors contributed to increased cases of metabolic disorders such as hypocalcemia (annual incidence 7.8%), excessive lipomobilisation, and displaced abomasum (annual incidence 5.2%). A holistic approach combining feeding adjustments, disease monitoring, facility improvements, and long-term management strategies was implemented to address these challenges. Short-term interventions, such as optimizing the dietary cation–anion balance and enhancing disease detection protocols, led to noticeable improvements. However, structural constraints and external factors, such as extreme weather conditions (heat stress) and economic limitations, created significant hurdles in achieving immediate and sustained success. The farm ultimately opted for infrastructural improvements, including a new transition cow facility, to provide a long-term solution to these recurring issues. This case highlights the complexity of transition cow management, demonstrating that long-term success depends on continuous monitoring, interdisciplinary collaboration, and adaptability in response to evolving challenges in dairy production.
Keywords: displaced abomasum; hypocalcemia; farm analysis; herd management; in practice displaced abomasum; hypocalcemia; farm analysis; herd management; in practice

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MDPI and ACS Style

Schären-Bannert, M.; Waurich, B.; Rachidi, F.; Wöckel, A.; Wippermann, W.; Wittich, J.; Hermenau, G.; Bannert, E.; Hufe, P.; May, D.; et al. Metabolic Disorders in Transition Dairy Cows in a 500-Cow Herd—Analysis, Prevention and Follow-Up. Dairy 2025, 6, 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy6050049

AMA Style

Schären-Bannert M, Waurich B, Rachidi F, Wöckel A, Wippermann W, Wittich J, Hermenau G, Bannert E, Hufe P, May D, et al. Metabolic Disorders in Transition Dairy Cows in a 500-Cow Herd—Analysis, Prevention and Follow-Up. Dairy. 2025; 6(5):49. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy6050049

Chicago/Turabian Style

Schären-Bannert, Melanie, Benno Waurich, Fanny Rachidi, Adriana Wöckel, Wolf Wippermann, Julia Wittich, Guntram Hermenau, Erik Bannert, Peter Hufe, Detlef May, and et al. 2025. "Metabolic Disorders in Transition Dairy Cows in a 500-Cow Herd—Analysis, Prevention and Follow-Up" Dairy 6, no. 5: 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy6050049

APA Style

Schären-Bannert, M., Waurich, B., Rachidi, F., Wöckel, A., Wippermann, W., Wittich, J., Hermenau, G., Bannert, E., Hufe, P., May, D., Dänicke, S., Swalve, H., & Starke, A. (2025). Metabolic Disorders in Transition Dairy Cows in a 500-Cow Herd—Analysis, Prevention and Follow-Up. Dairy, 6(5), 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/dairy6050049

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