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Evaluation of prepartum lying behavior as an indicator of health disorders in transition dairy cows
The objective of this study was to determine if prepartum lying behavior (lying time, lying bouts, or lying bout duration) could be used as an indicator of health disorders in transition dairy cows. Lying behavior of 281 prepartum Jersey cows enrolled 4 wk prior to expected calving date was recorded using HOBO Pendant G data loggers attached to the cow’s rear leg 1 d after entrance into the close-up pen, left on for 12 d, removed for 7 d and reattached for 12 d or until the cow calved. Blood samples were taken on DIM 3, 10, 17 and 24 for determination of BHBA concentrations. All cows were examined on DIM 1, 4, 7, 10, and 13 for metritis and retained fetal membrane. Locomotion (1-5 scale) was evaluated on DIM -28, 0, and 35; cows with locomotion score ≥ 3 were considered lame. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED of SAS. Increased daily lying time was associated with displaced abomasum (Difference, LSMEANS ± SE, min/d; 54.0 ± 13.2; P < 0.01), retained fetal membrane (20.4 ± 6.6; P < 0.01), twin pregnancies (59.4 ± 14.4; P < 0.01), and lameness at DIM 0 (163.2 ± 21.0; P < 0.01). Decreased daily lying time was associated with subclinical ketosis (50.4 ± 13.8; P < 0.01) and mastitis (34.2 ± 8.4; P < 0.01). An increase in the number of daily lying bouts was associated with lameness at DIM 0 (2.28 ± 0.61; P < 0.01) and first AI pregnancy (0.24 ± 0.12; P = 0.04). A decrease in the number of lying bouts was associated with displaced abomasum (1.45 ± 0.36; P < 0.01), retained fetal membrane (0.68 ± 0.22; P < 0.01), mastitis (1.21 ± 0.26; P < 0.01) and pregnancy loss from first AI (1.46 ± 0.27; P < 0.01). Decreases in lying bout duration (min) were associated with subclinical ketosis (14.4 ± 3.0; P < 0.01) and first AI pregnancy (2.4 ± 0.6; P = 0.01). Displaced abomasum (18.0 ± 3.0; P < 0.01) and pregnancy loss from first AI (7.8 ± 2.4; P < 0.01) were associated with increased lying bout duration. In conclusion, changes in lying behavior may be an indicator for cows at risk for transition disorders; however, the behavioral relationships were not consistent among the health disorders evaluated in this study.
Keywords:
lying behavior, transition cow