Identification of Changes in Rumination Behavior Registered with an Online Sensor System in Cows with Subclinical Mastitis

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The aim of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between subclinical mastitis and rumination behavior, as measured by an online sensor system. According to the findings of our research, rumination time and rumination chews can act as biomarkers of subclinical mastitis. Moreover, changes in rumination behavior could be used to identify subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. Recognizing affected cows and treating udder inflammation at an early stage could be extremely beneficial to farmers. For the identification of subclinical mastitis, veterinarians and farmers could consider using an online sensor system that registers rumination behavior biomarkers. This system would allow early identification of sick cows and reduce economic losses to the farm caused by this disease. ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study is to determine the relationship between subclinical mastitis and rumination behavior registered with an online sensor system. Based on the findings of the general clinical examination of 650 milking cows, 10 cows with subclinical mastitis (SCM) and 10 clinically healthy cows (HG) were selected (without clinical signs of any diseases). Rumination behavior biomarkers were registered with RumiWatch noseband sensors (RWS; ITIN + HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland). Sensors were implanted on the first day after calving. Data from the RWS 13 days before diagnosis of SCM and 13 days after diagnosis of SCM were compared with HG data from the same period. Healthy cows were checked alongside SCM cows on the same days. In our study, we found that healthy cows spent more time engaging in rumination and drinking (p < 0.05) and also had more boluses per rumination. Moreover, among cows with subclinical mastitis, rumination time from day 4 to day 0 decreased by 60.91%, drinking time decreased by 48.47%, and the number of boluses per rumination decreased by 8.67% (p < 0.05). The results indicate that subclinical affects time and rumination chews registered with sensor systems. However, additional studies with larger numbers of animals are required to confirm these results. Furthermore, the impact of heat stress, estrus, and other effects on rumination behavior biomarkers should be evaluated.