Industry-first app to improve transition management

Premier Nutrition, the Rugeley-based nutrition specialists & premix manufacturer, is launching a unique transition management app to provide dairy farmers with an opportunity to accurately interpret the success of their herds’ transition period and obtain practical advice in order to improve performance.

Poor transition into lactation for high yielding dairy cows is costing UK dairy farmers millions of pounds each year in production losses, in addition to potential implications for long term herd health. For the first time, Premier’s Transition Management System (TMS) app brings together a number of key pieces of transition data, which until now have been viewed in isolation, to provide an accurate assessment of transition success.

Focussing on four critical areas of transition – metabolic disease, energy status, intake potential and udder health – farmers, nutritionists, consultants and vets should use the app on a monthly basis to easily record key data for cows passing through the transition period. A report is automatically generated using a ‘traffic light’ system indicating where attention should be focused in both management and nutrition. As the app becomes established, it will also be possible to compare transition management success between herds on a regional, herd size, milk yield and breed basis via its unique output.

Andrew Pine, Premier Nutrition’s Ruminant Division Director commented:

“The new TMS system will revolutionise dairy cow transition management as it will provide a quick and easy assessment of current performance and allow modifications to nutrition and/or management to be made that will reverse negative trends before they become long term problems. We’re delighted to be able to apply our extensive experience in a way that could make such a significant difference on many UK farms.”

The forthcoming Livestock Show will see the app’s debut and Premier Nutrition are encouraging farmers, nutritionists, consultants and vets to visit the stand (FF-401) to see a demonstration and register for this vitally beneficial management tool. The app is compatible with all smartphones, tablets and web browser platforms.