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VIN LAMS302-0923: From Pregnancy to Lactation: Understanding the Transition Cow Challenge

The lectures for this course will be presented via Zoom.

Presenter: Robert Van Saun, DVM, MS, PhD
Course Open: March 14-April 21, 2024
Real Time Sessions (RTS): Thursdays, March 21, 28, April 4 and 11, 2024; 7:00-9:00 pm ET (USA) World Clock Converter
Total CE Credit: 8
RACE Category: 8 hours Medical


Enrollment is closed.  

Tuition: Member $184 ($166 early bird special if enrolled by February 29, 2024)
Non-Member $292 ($263 early bird special if enrolled by February 29, 2024)
Prices are listed in US dollars.


Course Information:
Postpartum disease conditions continue to be the scourge of the dairy industry. Research to identify pathophysiology, risk factors and methods of disease prevention for the cow transitioning from pregnancy into lactation have been ongoing over more than five decades with only moderate successes. Part of the transition cow challenge is the complex interaction among nutrition, animal management, and environment, or what we can term the “transition challenge triad”, and how this impacts animal physiology, health, and performance. This course will provide a detailed discussion of cow physiology and metabolism as it is impacted by the "transition challenge triad" to better understand fundamental concepts of postpartum disease pathogenesis and their prevention. Information presented will assume some foundational understanding of dairy cattle physiology, nutrition, and management. Participants successfully completing the course should be capable of providing comprehensive suggestions to their clients for improving herd performance.


Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course, the participant should be able to
  • explain the concept of homeorhesis and how it applies to dairy cow physiology during the transition period.
  • identify critical control points related to cow management facilitating prevention of postpartum disease in dairy cows.
  • recognize key nutrient issues related to postpartum disease risk in dairy cows.
  • explain potential nutritional strategies in feeding dry, pregnant cows.
  • describe the role of heat stress in transition cow health and methods of mitigation.
  • explain how inflammation arises in the transition cow and how it affects performance and disease risk.
  • investigate transition cow disease issues in a systematic way in identifying key factors for disease causation.


Level and Prerequisites: This intermediate VIN CE course is open for enrollment to veterinarians actively interested in dairy cattle nutrition and postpartum disease control. The only prerequisite is an interest in becoming more informed about transition cow health and management.
Accreditation: This course is approved for 8 hours of continuing education credit by RACE for veterinarians. (RACE 20-1089454)


Course Agenda:

Week 1 (Real Time Session March 21, 2024): Transition Cow Physiology Uncovered
Reading Assignment - Read at least one of the following articles prior to the March 21, 2024 Real Time Session.
  • Bauman DE, Currie WB. (1980).
    Partitioning of Nutrients During Pregnancy and Lactation: A Review of Mechanisms Involving Homeostasis and Homeorhesis.
    Journal of Dairy Science, 63(9), 1514-1529. doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(80)83111-0
    Full Text
  • Martens H. (2020).
    Transition Period of the Dairy Cow Revisited: I. Homeorhesis and its Changes by Selection and Management.
    Journal of Agricultural Science, 12(3), 1. doi.org/10.5539/jas.v12n3p1.
    Abstract - Free PDF Download Provided
  • Van Saun RJ. (2023).
    Ruminant Metabolic Diseases: Perturbed Homeorhesis.
    Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 39(2), 185-201.
    Abstract
The foundation of transition cow issues is understanding the underlying metabolism and physiology necessary to transition from pregnancy into lactation. What, if any, is the critical flaw in transition cow metabolism and physiology?

Week 2 (Real Time Session March 28, 2024): You Want Me to Do What? Management Gone Astray.
Reading Assignment - Read at least one of the following articles prior to the March 28, 2024 Real Time Session.
  • Cook NB, Nordlund KV. (2004).
    Behavioral Needs of the Transition Cow and Considerations for Special Needs Facility Design.
    Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 20(3), 495-520.
    Full Text
  • Soonberg M, Kass M, Kaart T, Barraclough R, Haskell MJ, Arney DR. (2021).
    Effect of Grouping on Behaviour of Dairy Heifers and Cows in the Transition Period. Journal of Dairy Research, 88(1), 45-51. doi.org/10.1017/S0022029921000066.
    Full Text
  • Mills KE, Weary DM, von Keyserlingk MA. (2020).
    Identifying Barriers to Successful Dairy Cow Transition Management.
    Journal of Dairy Science, 103(2), 1749-1758. doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-16231.
    Download Full Text - PDF
One of the areas more recently addressed in transition cow issues is the role of management. Allowing cows to express their normal behaviors is an issue not previously addressed. Aspects of transition cow behavior and how it may be impacted by management decisions will be explored.

Week 3 (Real Time Session April 4, 2024): Stop Stressing Me Out! Environmental Impacts On the Transition Cow.
Reading Assignment - Read at least one of the following articles prior to April 4, 2024 Real Time Session.
  • Lamp O, Derno M, Otten W, Mielenz M, Nürnberg G, Kuhla B (2015)
    Metabolic Heat Stress Adaption in Transition Cows: Differences in Macronutrient Oxidation Between Late-Gestating and Early-Lactating German Holstein Dairy Cows.
    PLoS ONE 10(5): e0125264. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125264.
    Full Text
  • Menta PR, Machado VS, Piñeiro JM, Thatcher WW, Santos JEP, Vieira-Neto A. (2022).
    Heat Stress During the Transition Period is Associated With Impaired Production, Reproduction, and Survival in Dairy Cows.
    Journal of Dairy Science, 105(5), 4474-4489. doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-21185.
    Full Text
  • Abuelo A, Mann S, Contreras GA. (2023).
    Metabolic Factors at the Crossroads of Periparturient Immunity and Inflammation.
    Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 39(2), 203-218.
    Abstract
  • Mezzetti M, Cattaneo L, Passamonti MM, Lopreiato V, Minuti A, Trevisi E. The Transition Period Updated: A Review of the New Insights into the Adaptation of Dairy Cows to the New Lactation.
    Dairy 2021, 2, 617–636. doi.org/10.3390/dairy2040048.
    Full Text
Environmental conditions can induce a range of stressors on the transition cow. More recent research has shown a connection between stress conditions and alteration of immunity and inflammatory conditions that can adversely impact underlying cow metabolic adaptions leading to disease conditions.

Week 4 (Real Time Session April 11, 2024): How Important is Nutritional Management?
Reading Assignment - Read at least one of the following articles prior to the April 11, 2024 Real Time Session.
  • Van Saun RJ, Sniffen CJ. (2014).
    Transition Cow Nutrition and Feeding Management for Disease Prevention.
    Veterinary Clinics: Food Animal Practice, 30(3), 689-719.
    Abstract
  • Roche JR, Bell AW, Overton TR, Loor JJ. (2013).
    Nutritional Management of the Transition Cow in the 21st Century – A Paradigm Shift in Thinking.
    Animal Production Science, 53(9), 1000-1023. doi.org/10.1071/AN12293.
    Full Text
  • Cardoso FC, Kalscheur KF, Drackley JK. (2020).
    Symposium Review: Nutrition Strategies for Improved Health, Production, and Fertility During the Transition Period.
    Journal of Dairy Science, 103(6), 5684-5693. doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17271.
    Full Text
  • Richards BF, Janovick NA, Moyes KM, Beever DE, Drackley JK. (2020).
    Comparison of Prepartum Low-Energy or High-Energy Diets With a 2-Diet Far-Off and Close-Up Strategy for Multiparous and Primiparous Cows.
    Journal of Dairy Science, 103(10), 9067-9080. doi.org/10.3168/jds.2020-18603.
    Full Text
Over the years, many nutritional approaches have been attempted in an effort to reduce postpartum disease conditions. Various approaches and the research behind them will be discussed. Critical nutritional issues as they relate to postpartum disease will be highlighted.


Successful completion (scoring 80% or better) on the end-of-course test is required to earn a certificate of completion for the course. To learn more about the requirements for earning a CE certificate, please refer to Receiving Your CE Credit and Course Completion Certificate.

Course Materials: Course materials will be available in the course library prior to each Real Time Session.
Required Textbook(s):
  • Lean I, DeGaris P. (2010).
    Transition Cow Management, 2nd ed.
    Dairy Australia. ISBN: 978-1-922529-06-0
    Download (Free)


Enrollment is closed.  

Tuition: Member $184 ($166 early bird special if enrolled by February 29, 2024)
Non-Member $292 ($263 early bird special if enrolled by February 29, 2024)
Prices are listed in US dollars.


*To ensure participants are ready and prepared for classes, enrollment will close on March 21, 2024 at 5 pm ET (USA) or when the maximum number of participants is reached.

*For more information on how online CE works, see the Participant Resource Center.


Enrollment qualifications:
  1. VIN CE Courses:
    1. VIN CE courses are open to VIN member, VIN student member, and non-member veterinarians.
    2. Veterinary support staff must be VSPN members in order to enroll in a VIN CE course open to VSPN member enrollment.
  2. VSPN CE Courses:
    1. VSPN CE courses are open to veterinary support staff and veterinarians.
    2. Only VIN and VSPN members can enroll in a VSPN CE course.
    3. Veterinarians will only receive credit for those VSPN CE courses that specify in the Accreditation statement that the course is accredited for veterinarians.
  3. Please check the course Level and Prerequisites, Accreditation, and Tuition before enrolling.
  4. Each enrollee must be able to receive emails from @vspn.org and @vin.com addresses.
    1. Email is our major form of communication with participants; personal emails are highly recommended rather than clinic/hospital email addresses.
  5. For further assistance call 800-846-0028 ext. 797 or email . Please include the course title, your full name, and contact information in your correspondence.


Course withdrawal and refund policy: A complete refund of the paid course price will be issued when your withdrawal request is received prior to the listed start date of the course. If you wish to withdraw after the start date please contact the VIN office 800-846-0028 ext. 797 to discuss eligibility for a pro-rated refund.

*For more information on VIN's upcoming CE courses, check the VIN Course Catalog.

Katherine James, DVM, PhD, DACVIM (SAIM)
VIN Education Director

VIN CE Services:
800-846-0028 or 530-756-4881; ext. 797
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from the United Kingdom: 01 45 222 6154
or direct line to VIN/VSPN from Australia: 02 6145 2357