Drying cows off can be done in different ways, with the aims being to give the udder tissue time to repair and rejuvenate before calving, treat any underlying infections in the udder and reduce the risk of new udder infections during the dry period.

A minimum of six weeks, but preferably eight, is recommended between drying off and calving.
Accurate calving dates are essential for drying off so cows get enough time to rest before calving, and to ensure that withholding periods are followed for any treatments given at dry off. This is especially important if you are using a long acting intra-mammary antibiotic dry cow treatment.
In addition to calving dates, production needs to be monitored. Ideally cows should be producing less than 12 litres but more than five litres per day when they are dried off. This is to reduce the risk of mastitis and milk residues from intramammary dry cow products at calving.
Some things to consider when drying off:
Will I use blanket or selective dry cow therapy in my herd?
If possible, use selective dry cow therapy to only use antibiotic tubes in cows with a higher risk of infection based on their individual cell count and mastitis history.
You can follow Dairy Australia's fact sheet or seek advice from your veterinarian as to the most suitable course of action for your farm if this is not something you have considered before - guideto-choose-appropriate-dry-cow-treatment-factsheet.pdf
Will I use an internal teat sealant?
Internal teat sealants are used to protect uninfected quarters during the dry period and extend protection provided by dry cow therapy. These can provide protection to cows not receiving long acting intramammary antibiotics at dry off and provide more protection from environmental bacteria, especially in wet and muddy conditions.
Staff training – the drying off team
Both dry cow antibiotic therapy and internal teat sealants have the risk of making cows very sick if done poorly. Hygiene is very important to ensure no bacteria are introduced into the teat canal during this process.
Dairy Australia has resources on how to dry cows off, and the two-day Milking and Mastitis Management course also allows participants to practice this on-farm. If you require further farm specific training, contact your veterinarian.
What about my heifers?
The aim of the dry period for cows who have not milked before is to prepare them for calving and prevent them picking up an infection before calving. In herds with a high incidence of mastitis soon after calving, or very wet and muddy calving conditions, internal teat sealants can be considered in heifers.
What vaccinations do my cows need to ensure their colostrum has good immunity for the calves?
In addition to ensuring cows udders have time to repair prior to calving, we also need to consider the first milk they will be making, colostrum.
Colostrum is packed with antibodies to provide immunity for calves in their first few weeks of life. Vaccinating cows at the right time will help to ensure the colostrum contains high levels of antibodies for specific diseases on your farm.
Colostrum formation starts five-six weeks before the expected calving date. Therefore, cows with a short dry period or who are given vaccinations after this time will likely have reduced quality colostrum. All vaccinations and programs vary slightly so it's best to discuss your plan with your veterinarian and follow the vaccine manufacturer's advice.
Do I need to cull any cows?
Individual cell counts and clinical mastitis cases should be considered prior to drying cows off, and culling should be considered for cows with a long term very high cell count or repeated cases of mastitis throughout the lactation.
Making the decision to cull cows should be done before drying them off to ensure there are no withholding periods that need to be followed.