Abstract
The transition period (last four weeks of pregnancy and the first four weeks of lactation) is the most traumatic period in the annual cycle of the dairy cow. It is physiologically and nutritionally stressful, particularly as food intake is reduced, especially in the last few days prior to calving, whilst nutrient demands for foetal growth and initiation of milk synthesis are increased. As the genetic merit of the national herd has increased considerably in the last ten years, improved nutritional management of cows during the transition period may be more important in reducing or preventing the cumulative loss of body condition, particularly in early lactation. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of level of concentrate intake in late gestation on subsequent milk yield and composition.
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