https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:2976 The Relation between Milk Lactose Concentration and the Rumination, Feeding, and Locomotion Behavior of Early-Lactation Dairy Cows Antanaitis, Ramūnas Ramūnas Antanaitis 0000-0002-9993-2224 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Baumgartner, Walter Walter Baumgartner 0000-0001-7366-7242 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Tolkačiovaitė, Kotryna Kotryna Tolkačiovaitė Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Arlauskaitė, Samanta Samanta Arlauskaitė Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Girdauskaitė, Akvilė Akvilė Girdauskaitė Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Džermeikaitė, Karina Karina Džermeikaitė 0009-0005-5343-6590 Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Krištolaitytė, Justina Justina Krištolaitytė Lithuanian University of Health Sciences MDPI text eng This study hypothesizes that higher in-line milk lactose concentrations are indicative of enhanced dairy cow behaviors-including increased rumination, feeding, and locomotion activities-reflecting superior overall health and well-being. It posits that fluctuations in milk lactose levels have a substantial impact on the physiological and behavioral responses of dairy cows, thereby affecting their milk yields and compositions. Each cow's milk lactose, fat, protein, and fat-to-protein ratio were continuously monitored using the BROLIS HerdLine in-line milk analyzer (Brolis Sensor Technology, Vilnius, Lithuania). The RumiWatch noseband sensor (RWS; ITIN + HOCH GmbH, Fütterungstechnik, Liestal, Switzerland) was employed to measure the biomarkers of the rumination, feeding, and locomotion behavior. The measurements were recorded over 5 days at the same time (during morning milking). A total of 502 cows were examined. During these 5 days, 2510 measurements were taken. Based on the lactose content in their milk, the cows were divided into two categories: the first group consisted of cows with milk lactose levels below 4.70%, while the second group included cows with milk lactose levels of 4.70% or higher. Our study showed that cows with higher milk lactose concentrations (≥4.70%) produced significantly more milk (16.14% increase) but had a lower milk protein concentration (5.05% decrease) compared to cows with lower lactose levels. These cows also exhibited changes in rumination and feeding behaviors, as recorded by the RWS: there was an increase in the mastication and rumination behaviors, evidenced by a 14.09% rise in other chews and a 13.84% increase in rumination chews, along with a 16.70% boost in bolus activity. However, there was a notable 16.18% reduction in their physical activity, as measured by the change in time spent walking. Body Condition Score; Production Traits; Pressure Sensor; Glucose; System; Yield; Associations; Validation; Indicators; Weight http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:2976/download 10.3390/ani14060836 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Animals 14(6) (2024) Animals 14 6 588.48 kB 2024