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.

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.