Thirty percent or more of cows will experience at least one disease event in early lactation, writes Dan Shock. For producers who push their animals close to their biological limits, resilience becomes the key driver of both welfare and performance. Stress links directly to inflammation, immune function and disease risk, so the opportunity for veterinary teams and their dairy clients is apparent:
- Identify stress in the system.
- Reduce unnecessary variability and disruptions.
- Monitor behavioral indicators alongside production/health metrics.
- Consider supportive tools like BAP that help animals adapt.
- The goal is not just higher production – it is more consistent, more resilient performance.
Source: Progressive Dairy, May 8, 2026. Link. Producers, nutritionists and veterinarians focus not only on treating disease but also proactively managing the biological bottlenecks that precede it. Stress and how well the cow can adapt to it is a key factor in resilience and individual cow stamina.
The modern dairy cow is a metabolic athlete. On a per-kilogram bodyweight basis, her daily energy turnover rivals that of a National Hockey League athlete on game day. The difference is that she does this day-in, day-out, without recovery until dry-off.” – Stephen LeBlanc, DVM, DVSc
INSIGHTS: Shock says, “We can’t look at managing stress and optimizing health and welfare as separate. They are intimately connected.”
For the dairy practice team frequently called to fix single issues, Shock’s statement can be a starting point. Consider engaging three or four mid-sized dairy clients who fit the last-minute profile, share this article PDF and ask them for an hour or so to discuss “getting ahead of problems.” Capture what you learn and repeat with other dairies.
Photo credit: World Dairy Expo
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