Protein and energy nutrition of the transition cow

Take Home Messages introduce grain into the dry cow diet at least 3 weeks before expected calv ing to adapt the rumen microbes and papillae to a high starch diet and to h elp maintain adequate energy intake avoid overconditioning at calving as overconditioned cows eat less and are more likely to develop metabolic disorders than properly conditioned cows transition cow diets containing 1.6 Mcal/kg net energy and 16% crude protei n may be warranted