Prepartum feeding behavior is an early indicator of subclinical ketosis

Cows diagnosed with subclinical ketosis (SCK) after calving are at increased risk of developing other diseases and compromised reproductive performance. The objective of this study was to determine whether changes in feeding and social behaviors during the transition period were associated with SCK during the week after calving. Feeding behaviors of 101 Holstein dairy cows were monitored from 3 wk before to 3 wk after calving. Ten otherwise healthy animals were identified as having SCK by serum beta-hydroxybutyrate levels >or=1,000 micromol/L taken during wk +1. These animals were matched by parity with 10 healthy animals. During the week before calving and the 2 wk after calving, animals with SCK had lower dry matter intake, had fewer visits to the feeder, and spent less time at the feeder than healthy animals. For every 10-min decrease in average daily time spent at the feeder during the week before calving, the risk of SCK increased by 1.9 times. During the same week, a 1-kg decrease in average daily dry matter intake increased the risk of SCK by 2.2 times. The largest increase in risk of SCK was associated with a 1-kg increase in the change in average daily intake from wk -2 to -1. During the week before calving, animals with SCK initiated fewer displacements at the feed bunk compared with animals that remained healthy after calving. The results of this study provide evidence that time spent feeding, dry matter intake, and social behavior play an important role in transition cow health. These results indicate that special consideration should be given to management and social factors that can negatively affect dry matter intake and feed bunk attendance during the transition period.