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

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    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 500β€…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 2βˆ’3 vs. 4+), and their interactions during 3 periods: PRE (βˆ’21 to βˆ’3 d), PERI (βˆ’2–2 d) and POST (3–28 d) relative to the day of calving (day 0). Parity 2–3 Zeolite cows ate for 18β€…min/day less than Parity 2–3 Control cows PRE. Zeolite-fed cows also ate for 24β€…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.</p
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