By Casey Havekes Regional Dairy Management Specialist, CCE NCRAT & Sydney Moore, BSc., MSc., PhD Student University of British Columbia

 **This article originally appeared in Progressive Dairy Canada, Issue 1: January 2022**

The dry period is essential for dairy cows, to allow for regeneration of milk secreting tissue and prepare the udder for optimal success in the next lactation. This period can also be very stressful on the animal due to social, physiological, and nutritional changes making it increasingly important to pay close attention during this time.