Automated monitoring of seasonal and diurnal variation of rumination behaviour: Insights into thermotolerance management of Holstein cows

Abstract

To evaluate various influencing factors of rumination time (RT) variation in Holstein cattle in China, data from 38 consecutive months from 864 lactating cows using three-axis accelerometer based wearable neck sensors were collected. Year, season, parity, THI, bihourly rumination time in minutes (R2h), and days in milk (DIM) had a significant effect on the diurnal rhythm of rumination. The average daily rumination time in minutes (DRT) was 527, increased in spring (550), and declined in summer (514). A prenatal decline in DRT from 557 at −18DIM to 344 at DIM0 and its gradual rise (597) on DIM4, gave valuable insights regarding periparturient management. A stable return of DRT was observed by DIM30, later rumination time gradually decreased with increasing DIM. From 22:00 to 04:00 the R2h was higher and had a strong correlation (0.45) with DRT. Milking and feeding time drop in R2h pattern, though significant ( P < 0.05), was consistent between concerning parity and season. The average DRT of the first parity cows was lower (29 min/d) than multiparous cows, while this difference was greater (47 min d −1 ) in summer. DRT reached the highest daily average upon THI63–65, decreased gradually in winter, and touched the lowest during extreme summer. A chronological influencing concomitance of THI63 and THI68 with the RT of dairy cows provided valuable insights into THI thresholds for RT decline and heat stress. RT was maximum at THI63, while higher the duration spent above the THI thresholds of 68 and 72, more pronounced was the RT decline. • Three-axis accelerometer-based wearable reliably predicts the rumination behaviour. • Daily rumination time (DRT) is lower in summer months, cooling measures helps. • DRT of primiparous dairy cows is higher than multiparous cows. • DRT decline sharply around parturition and rise back to maximum at day 4. • DRT is highest at THI 63–65, decrease at THI 68 and declines markedly after THI 72.