Graphical Abstract Summary: The effects of the administration of acidogenic bolus at dry-off on total daily activity (TDA) and total daily rumination (TDR) behaviors during the 2 weeks following dry-off were investigated in this randomized clinical trial. Cows in the treatment group (TRT) received 2 oral acidogenic boluses at dry-off, whereas cows in the control group (CON) did not receive any intervention. The TRT cows were less active in the first 2 weeks post dry-off with a decreased TDR observed only in the first day after acidogenic bolus administration. The results indicate that the administration of acidogenic boluses at dry-off should be considered as an alternative management strategy to increase cow comfort in the first 2 weeks after dry-off.

We investigated whether delaying oral calcium (Ca) bolus administration to the second day postpartum (DEL) was noninferior to bolus administration within 24 h of calving (CON) in its effects on plasma Ca concentrations during the first five days in milk (DIM). We also investigated the effects of DEL vs. CON strategies on magnesium (Mg) concentrations and daily rumination time (RT). Twenty-three multiparous (parity ≥ 3) dairy cows were randomly assigned to the CON (n = 11) or DEL (n = 12) treatment. Blood Ca and Mg were measured at 1–5 DIM and RT was monitored from −7 d to 7 d relative to calving. The noninferiority margin was a difference in Ca concentration of 0.15 mmol/L. Blood Ca and Mg concentrations and RT were analyzed by multivariable linear mixed models accounting for repeated measures. Blood Ca concentrations were 0.07 mmol/L (95% confidence interval: −0.30–0.17) less in DEL cows than CON cows, thus non-inferiority results were inconclusive. The Ca concentration increased across the first 5 DIM but did not differ between treatments while Mg concentrations decreased in both treatments (p < 0.001). There was no treatment difference in RT (CON: 436 ± 21, DEL: 485 ± 19 min/d). While noninferiority results were inconclusive, similar blood Ca dynamics between CON and DEL treatment strategies indicates that delayed Ca administration is a potential management option for commercial dairy farms; however, additional studies using large sample sizes are warranted to confirm these findings.