The ideal body condition score will support maximum peak milk production during the negative energy balance of lactation. High producing cows will lose body condition during early lactation, but large losses are associated with lower milk production and lower conception rates.
Early lactation cows experience a period on negative energy balance after calving.
Severity of negative energy balance can be estimated by monitoring body condition score changes. Since this projection, three cows in North American have completed lactation records in excess of 26,800 kg. Individual herds have broken the 14,000 kg herd average limit. Cow records of this magnitude require cows to average more than 90 kg of milk per day during peak lactation. To achieve this level of production, dairy cows genetically capable of this level of milk production are kept healthy in a well managed environment.