Behavioral changes of metritic primiparous cows treated with chitosan microparticles or ceftiofur

Abstract

Metritis is a prevalent disease in dairy cows that impairs welfare, performance, and profitability. We used automated health-monitoring devices to compare activity and rumination in lactating primiparous dairy cows with metritis following treatment. Cows treated with chitosan microparticles (CM) had lower rumination and activity than cows treated with ceftiofur and untreated controls. Decreased rumination and activity indicate a negative systemic effect of CM that may be associated with increased inflammation in the uterus. Highlights• Chitosan microparticles negatively affected the rumination and activity of cows with metritis.• The negative effect of CM on rumination and activity indicates a negative systemic effect that may be associated with increased inflammation in the uterus. • Regardless of treatment, cows with metritis had decreased rumination and activity starting 5 days before diagnosis until at least 2 days after diagnosis. • The automated health-monitoring device was a useful tool to evaluate rumination and activity patterns after metritis treatment.