Figure 5.

Scheme of the experimental procedure. On day 25 before expected calving, cows were habituated (H) to tie stalls and the experimental setup, this H procedure was repeated on Day 17 p.p as a reminder (R). The water preference test (WPT) was performed starting 22 days before expected calving and again 21 p.p. for three consecutive days. The feed preference test (FPT) was performed on day 19 before expected calving and on Day 24 p.p. for three consecutive days. During WPT and FPT, cows received a rehydrated close-up diet a.p. and a rehydrated lactation diet p.p. Intraperitoneal injections started on Day 1 p.p. and were continued until Day 30 p.p. from Mondays to Fridays. Cows received 3 µg/kg BW N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA, n = 8) or 0.9% NaCl, (CON; n = 8). Cows were slaughtered on Day 30 p.p. (arrow).