The effect of prepartum synthetic zeolite supplementation on the eating, lying and activity behaviours of grazing dairy cows

ABSTRACT

This study determined the effect of feeding synthetic zeolite A prepartum to reduce periparturient hypocalcaemia risk on the eating, lying, and activity behaviours of multiparous grazing dairy cows. Animals were randomly allocated to either a Zeolite treatment group (n = 21; individually fed 500 g/d zeolite for two weeks prepartum) or a Control group (n = 22). Behaviour data obtained from accelerometers were analysed to determine the effects of treatment, parity (Parity 2−3 vs. 4+), and their interactions during 3 periods: PRE (−21 to −3 d), PERI (−2–2 d) and POST (3–28 d) relative to the day of calving (day 0). Parity 2–3 Zeolite cows ate for 18 min/day less than Parity 2–3 Control cows PRE. Zeolite-fed cows also ate for 24 min/day less than Control cows during the PERI period. There were no treatment differences in lying time or activity PRE or PERI, but Zeolite-fed cows spent more time lying POST. Regardless of treatment, Parity 2–3 cows were generally more active and ate for longer than Parity 4 + cows. Our results suggest zeolite may subtly decrease appetite or alter eating behaviour during the supplementation period, particularly in younger cows, and may improve cow comfort postcalving.

KEYWORDS:

• Zeolite
• behaviour
• transition dairy cow
• parity
• lying time

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the DairyNZ technical and farm teams for their valuable assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by New Zealand dairy farmers through DairyNZ Inc. and by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment through the ‘Pillars of a Competitive and Responsible Dairy System’ programme (contract #DRCX1302).