Water intake and drinking behaviour in Holstein, Gyr and Girolando-F1 cows presenting high body condition score during the transition period

Water consumption may vary depending on climate, dry matter intake (DMI) as well as genetic group and physiological state of the cows. Little is published for other genetic groups besides Holstein. Understanding the need for water intake (WI) as well as drinking behaviour in critical periods could help producers develop adjusted management practices. This study aimed to investigate the drinking and water consumption behaviour of Holstein, Gyr and Girolando-F1 (½ Holstein ½ Gir) cows during the transition period. Thirty-six cows were distributed into three groups (<i>n</i> = 12 each) according to their genetic group. WI and water drinking behaviour were monitored from 10 days before parturition until 21 days of lactation using electronic drinkers. During <i>pre</i>-calving, a positive correlation was observed between WI and DMI only for Holstein (<i>r</i> = 0.31; <i>p</i> < 0.05) and Girolando-F1 (<i>r</i> = 0.34; <i>p</i> < 0.05) cows. Holstein cows ingested the highest amount of water daily and per 100 kg of body weight (BW) (30.9 kg and 4.5 kg). Holstein cows had higher WI per BW^0.75 than Gyr cows (0.23 kg vs. 0.12 kg). Furthermore, Holstein cows remained longer and spent more active time at the drinker (85.4 min; 81.2 min) than Gyr (13.5 min; 12.1 min) and Girolando-F1 cows (36.8 min; 34.4 min; <i>p</i> < 0.05), respectively. Holstein and Girolando-F1 cows had a higher daily number of active visits to the drinker than Gyr cows (4.2, 4.2, and 2.8 times, respectively). In the <i>post</i>-calving period, WI was positively correlated with DMI in all genetic groups, but it was correlated with milk yield (MY) only in Holstein (<i>r</i> = 0.21; <i>p</i> < 0.05) and Girolando-F1 (<i>r</i> = 0.42; <i>p</i> < 0.05) cows. The WI per MY and per BW^0.75 was lower for Girolando-F1 cows in relation to the Holstein and Gyr cows on the first day <i>post</i>-calving and highest for Gyr cows on the seventh day <i>post</i>-calving. WI per kg of BW^0.75 was higher for Holstein cows than for Gyr cows during the first 21 days of lactation, while WI per kg BW^0.75 of Holstein cows was higher than that of Girolando-F1 cows on days 3 and 4 and from days 7 to 21. The genetic groups differed in WI and drinking behaviour and were mainly modulated by DMI and THI in the <i>pre</i>-calving period and by MY and DMI <i>in the post</i>-calving period.