Preventing Ketosis During the Transition Period: A Practical Management Approach

Ketosis prevention needs to begin before calving. During the transition period, cows experience major changes in nutrient requirements and feed intake. As lactation begins, energy demand rises rapidly while dry matter intake may remain limited, creating a negative energy balance (NEB). Increased mobilisation of body fat raises the supply of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) to the liver, increasing the risk of excessive ketone production and ketosis^[1],[2],[3].

A practical prevention programme should therefore focus on maintaining feed intake, avoiding excessive body condition at calving, supporting metabolic adaptation and reducing factors that interfere with normal eating behaviour. 

Manage body condition before calving 

Body condition at calving can influence the extent of fat mobilisation during early lactation. Cows entering the transition period with excessive body conditions are more likely to experience greater mobilisation of body reserves and reduced feed intake. A body condition score above 3.5–4.0 on a five-point scale has been associated with increased ketosis risk^[4],[5]. 

The objective during the dry period should be to maintain an appropriate body condition rather than encourage additional weight gain close to calving. This helps reduce the metabolic pressure associated with excessive fat mobilisation after parturition. 

Protect dry matter intake 

Maintaining feed intake is central to limiting the energy deficit after calving. Close-up and fresh-cow diets should provide adequate energy while maintaining appropriate forage, concentrate and protein balance. Simply increasing dietary energy density is not sufficient if intake, rumen function and overall ration balance are compromised. 

Maintaining an appropriate forage-to-concentrate balance and controlling protein supply are important aspects of transition nutrition^[6],[7]. Adequate glucogenic substrate is also relevant because propionate is an important precursor for hepatic gluconeogenesis. Providing appropriate glucogenic substrates can support glucose production during the period of high energy demand^[7].

Make feed access consistent 

Even a well-formulated ration cannot support metabolic adaptation if cows do not consume enough of it. Competition, overcrowding, and interruptions to feeding can reduce intake during an already vulnerable period^[7],[8]. 

Adequate bunk space, appropriate stocking density and comfortable lying conditions can help cows maintain access to feed and rest. Consistent access to fresh feed and water is particularly important around calving, when changes in intake can intensify negative energy balance. 

Minimise environmental and management stress^[7] 

Heat stress, inadequate ventilation, excessive humidity, overcrowding, and uncomfortable resting areas can interfere with normal feeding behaviour and metabolic adaptation. These challenges should be addressed as part of transition management rather than treated as separate environmental concerns. 

Adequate ventilation, cooling during periods of heat stress, suitable bedding, and sufficient resting space can help maintain cow comfort. Controlling stocking density can also reduce competition for both feed and resting areas. 

Monitor cows during early lactation 

Prevention does not end at calving. Monitoring metabolic status during early lactation can help identify cows with hyperketonemia before more obvious clinical abnormalities appear. 

Blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is commonly used to monitor hyperketonemia during the early postpartum period. A BHB concentration of ≥1.2 mmol/L is commonly used as a threshold for subclinical ketosis, although the timing and frequency of testing can vary according to the purpose of monitoring and the herd situation. 

Herd-level monitoring can provide an indication of how effectively cows are adapting to the transition from pregnancy to lactation. If elevated BHB is detected repeatedly or in a substantial proportion of cows, this should prompt closer attention to body condition, feed intake, ration management, and transition-cow conditions. 

Preventing ketosis is therefore not dependent on a single nutritional adjustment. Appropriate body condition, sustained feed intake, balanced transition diets, consistent feed access, cow comfort and appropriate metabolic monitoring need to work together. Managing these factors throughout the transition period can help limit excessive negative energy balance and reduce the risk of ketosis during early lactation.

References:

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2. Kabir M, Hasan MM, Tanni NS, Parvin MS, Asaduzzaman M, Ehsan MA, Islam MT. Metabolic profiling in periparturient dairy cows and its relation with metabolic diseases. BMC research notes. 2022 Jun 28;15(1):231. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/s13104-022-06130-z.pdf
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5. Vicente F, Rodríguez ML, Martínez-Fernández A, Soldado A, Argamentería A, Peláez M, de la Roza-Delgado B. Subclinical ketosis on dairy cows in transition period in farms with contrasting butyric acid contents in silages. The Scientific World Journal. 2014;2014(1):279614. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1155/2014/279614
6. Li Y, Ding H, Liu L, Song Y, Du X, Feng S, Wang X, Li X, Wang Z, Li X, Li J. Non-esterified fatty acid induce dairy cow hepatocytes apoptosis via the mitochondria-mediated ROS-JNK/ERK signaling pathway. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. 2020 Apr 28;8:245. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cell-and-developmental-biology/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.00245/pdf
7. Zhang Y, Wang C, Khan MZ, Ju Z, Huang J. Current Understanding of Bovine Ketosis: From Molecular Basis to Farm-Level Management. Animals. 2025 Dec 18;15(24):3644. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/24/3644
8. Xu HY, Yu L, Chen JH, Yang LN, Lin C, Shi XQ, Qin H. Sesamol alleviates obesity-related hepatic steatosis via activating hepatic PKA pathway. Nutrients. 2020 Jan 26;12(2):329. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/2/329