Dry-off is more than the end of one lactation; it is the first major biological event of the next one. Challenging the dairy industry’s long-held assumptions, Erminio Trevisi, MS, PhD, asserts dry-off transition deserves the same attention as calving because it marks the first stage of the next transition period.
Trevisi’s research findings suggest dry-off does not reset the cow’s physiology. Instead, existing immunometabolic challenges may carry into the next lactation, affecting how successfully cows adapt during the transition period.
Source: Bovine Veterinarian, July 29, 2026. Link.
Dry-off is not a single event . . . cows are adapting to several major physiological and management changes at the same time . . . the changes extend well beyond the udder.”
INSIGHTS: Trevisi’s assertions about clinically healthy cows with evidence of subclinical inflammation before dry-off, plus identifying animals with underlying inflammatory or metabolic challenges, would make a good topic for engaging producers.
Image: Link.
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