Drying off high-producing cows easily?

For top dairy farms, drying off isn't a pause; it's a turning point. A decisive moment when udder health, metabolic balance, and the course of the following lactation are either optimized or undermined.

For years, gradual drying-off strategies were considered "safe," despite the hidden costs: milk leakage, stress, and disruption of the cow's metabolism (Emam et al., 2025).

Recent research by Van Hall Larenstein, shows that faster, calmer and more consistent drying off is not only better for the cow, but also pays off in the following lactation. By means of abrupt drying off with AHV StopLac® Do you make a difference at dry-off and do you cash in on that difference in the next lactation?

How StopLac® prepares high-producing cows for dry-off
a stronger next lactation? Discover the results.
Through a quantitative field study with more than 4.000 cows
The effect of StopLac® on milk production in the following lactation was investigated on 27 dairy farms in the Netherlands and Belgium.

• The focus of the StopLac research was clear and economically relevant
• Does StopLac have an impact on milk production in the following lactation?
• How is the performance in the first fifty days of lactation?

How do cows with and without StopLac® compare? The study clearly showed that StopLac® cows produced significantly more milk in the first fifty days after calving than cows that were not treated. (Koetschuiter et al., 2026) This difference is statistically significant (p = 0,029), meaning it is very likely due to the treatment and not chance.

Differences between the 5 dairy farms
To eliminate farm effects as much as possible, the analyses were conducted within five farms with the most complete datasets. Within these farms, treatment and control groups were highly comparable in terms of parity, previous 305-day milk production, and dry period duration.

The average lactation number was around 3,2–3,3, with a previous 305-day production of 11,2–11,3 tons. The dry period averaged 49–51 days. The medians were similar, but the variation was greater in the control group.

Milk production was also evaluated here on day 50 after calving. On average, the StopLac group achieved +1,95 kg milk per cow per day (95% CI: −0,19 to +4,08 kg/day).

The differences on farms show that, in addition to the dry-off facilitator, nutrition, and farm and transition management also play a role. Early milk after calving is valuable milk.

And that is exactly where abrupt drying with StopLac® makes the difference
Previous research shows that cows dried off with StopLac® are more energetically and metabolically balanced around calving. This is reflected in lower NEFA (fatty acids), a healthier liver, and improved calcium and phosphorus levels (Delhez P. et al., 2025). Metabolic problems in the first weeks after calving lead to less milk, lower peak production, and a significantly increased risk of early culling. Loss of longevity begins here. (Hostens M., 2012)

Why it works: smart drying without stress
StopLac® makes abrupt dry-offs more gentle by temporarily influencing rumen activity and controlling the inevitable rumination dip. This optimizes the dry-off process for cows without:

• Feed restriction
• Reduction of milking frequency
• Increase in udder pressure
• Rapid cessation of milk production
• Less milk leakage
• Lower stress load
• Maintaining metabolic health before calving (Cattaneo, L. et al 2023)

In this way, drying up becomes a controlled transition, not a drawn-out compromise.

More milk starts with a smart dry-off strategy
By 2026, dairy farmers want certainty: investing with a predictable return, without extra labor or complex management. StopLac® fits seamlessly into this picture. With a well-thought-out dry-off approach, you'll get more milk from the same cow, both before and after calving.

The investment remains clear:

• 4 StopLac® tablets per cow
• €38 investment per cow

This investment translates directly into extra milk and a stronger
start of lactation:

• +1,95 kg milk per cow per day in early lactation
• ±100 kg extra milk in the first 50 days after calving
• Approximately €104 advantage per cow (at €0,40 per litre of raw milk)

When you include the net cost of gradual drying (€64,35; Steeneveld et al., 2019), the financial picture remains clearly positive. The return speaks for itself:

• ROI 2,74 : 1

And perhaps just as importantly, this result is achieved without additional labor or complex management. Only through better timing and a physiologically sound dry-off period can StopLac® ensure that milk production pays off where it counts.

What this means for high-production companies
Drying off with StopLac® ensures a strong start! And every experienced dairy farmer knows: the cows that gain weight in the first fifty days carry the lactation.

The key message of the research:

• The first 50 days of lactation are crucial
• StopLac® cows start stronger
• Performance is more consistent across lactations
• The return is measurable, realistic and repeatable

Drying out is no longer about slowing down. It's about optimizing from A to Better.

Ready to optimize your dry-off strategy?
Create a AHV Advisor is happy to analyze your current approach and translate the potential of early lactation yield to your company, your genetics, and your milk contract.

_{Authors: Eva Koetschruiter, Chiara Poelman & Olivia Post – Animals, Society & Business Van Hall Larenstein, Velp}

_{Sources:
Emam, M.H., Elmaghawry, S., Abdelaal, A.M. (2025). Transition Period in Dairy Cows: Monitoring, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Egyptian Journal of Veterinary. https://doi.org/10.21608/ejvs.2024.299502.2196}

_{Delhez, P., H. Hamard, L. Theron, G. Ackaert, AS. Rao, (2025). Preliminary Evaluation of a Phytogenic Dry-Off Tablet on Dairy Cow Transition Health and Performance. European Foreign Affairs Congress 2025}

_{Hostens M., J. Enrlich, B. Van Ranst, G. Opsomer (2012). On-farm evaluation of the effect of metabolic diseases on the shape of the lactation curve in dairy cows through the MilkBot lactation model. J. Dairy Sci. 95 :2988–3007. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.3168/jds.2011-4791}

_{Koetschiter E., C. Poelman, O. Post (2026). The effect of AHV StopLac® on the following lactation of dairy cows with regard to production level. Research Report, Animals Society and Business Van Hall Larenstein}

_{Steeneveld, W., De Prado-Taranilla, A., Krogh, K., & Hogeveen, H. (2019). The economic impact of drying off cows with a dry-off facilitator (cabergoline) compared with 2 methods of gradual cessation of lactation for European dairy farms. Journal of Dairy Science, 102(8), 7483-7493. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2018-16068}

_{Cattaneo L, Minuti A, Dahl GE, Trevisi E. Graduate Student Literature Review: The challenge of drying-off high-yielding dairy cows. J Dairy Sci. 2023 Sep; 106(9):6416-6426. doi: 10.3168/jds.2022-23113. Epub 2023 Jul 26. PMID: 37500440 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37500440/}