The Association between Prepartum Rumination Time, Activity and Dry Matter Intake and Subclinical Hypocalcemia and Hypomagnesemia in the First 3 Days Postpartum in Holstein Dairy Cows

SIMPLE SUMMARY: There is increasing interest in the use of behavioral indicators to identify and even predict health disorders in dairy cattle, allowing for improved management and treatment strategies. The behavior changes such as the prepartum total daily rumination (TDR), total daily activity (TDA) and dry matter intake (DMI) have been suggested as predictors for subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) and hypomagnesemia (HYM) postpartum. Our main objective was to evaluate the association between rate of change in rumination and activity behavior and DMI across the three days prior to calving with SCH and HYM status at D0 (day of calving) and D3 postpartum. Our results suggest that the rate of change in prepartum TDR, TDA and DMI is not an effective estimator of SCH and HYM status postpartum. ABSTRACT: Changes in prepartum behaviors such as total daily rumination (TDR), total daily activity (TDA) and dry matter intake (DMI) have the potential to be used as early indicators for cows at risk for subclinical hypocalcemia (SCH) or hypomagnesemia (HYM) after calving. Our objective was to investigate associations between average daily rate of change in total daily rumination (ΔTDR), total daily activity (ΔTDA) and dry matter intake (ΔDMI) from −3 days prepartum to calving with SCH and HYM at D0 or D3 relative to calving. Prepartum TDR, TDA and DMI were measured in 64 Holstein dairy cows. Blood samples were taken at D0 and D3 post-calving for the measurement of total plasma Ca and Mg concentration. Linear regression models were used to analyze the association between ΔTDR, ΔTDA and ΔDMI and SCH and HYM at D0 and D3 relative to calving. Potential confounding variables were offered to the models and backwards selection was used to determine which covariates to retain. No significant differences in prepartum ΔTDR, ΔTDA or ΔDMI were found between cows with or without SCH and HYM at D0 and D3. Our results suggest that the change in TDR, TDA and DMI in the last 3 days prepartum are not effective predictors for cows that will have SCH or HYM in the first 3 days postpartum.