The objective of this study was to compare prepartum rumination patterns of lactating dairy cows that developed health disorders (HD) versus cows that did not develop HD (NoHD) up to 30 DIM. A total of 559 Holstein cows (222 primiparous and 337 multiparous) were fitted with a rumination and activity monitoring tag (HR Tags, SCR Dairy) from −28 to 30 DIM. Rumination time (RT) was recorded in minutes per 2 h intervals and summarized in 24 h periods. After calving, farm personnel examined cows daily for signs of clinical disease following farm standard operating procedures. From 1 to 10 DIM, personnel evaluated: appetite, rectal temperature, ketone bodies in urine, rumen fill and movements, retained placenta, vaginal discharge, daily milk weights, and milk conductivity. Milk culture was performed for all mastitis cases. Number of cows suffering HD was displaced abomasum (DA) 17, ketosis (KET) 16, indigestion (IND) 5, metritis (MET) 171, retained placenta (RP) 49, and mastitis (MAST) 36. Rumination time for the 7 d preceding calving was evaluated for cows with HD or NoHD within 30 DIM. Also, data were evaluated for all metabolic and digestive diseases (MDZ = DA, KET, IND) combined and RP, MET, and MAST individually. Data were analyzed by ANOVA with repeated measurements using PROC MIXED of SAS. For all HD combined, RT was less (P = 0.02) for cows with HD (439.1 ± 2.8 min) than for cows with NoHD (455.9 ± 2.0 min). Rumination time was lowest (P < 0.01) on the day of calving (391.3 ± 4.3 min) than the 6 d preceding calving (mean range = 457.5 ± 4.0 – 462.6 ± 4.1 min) for all cows. Cows with MDZ had reduced RT (P < 0.01) than NoHD cows (409.6 ± 7.3 vs 455.9 ± 2.0 min). Cows with RP had similar RT (P = 0.25) than NoHD cows (440.2 ± 5.0 vs 455.9 ± 2.0 min). Cows with MET tended to have reduced RT (P = 0.05) than NoHD cows (440.5 ± 3.1 vs 455.9 ± 2.0 min). Cows with MAST had similar RT (P = 0.82) than NoHD cows (452.4 ± 6.1 vs 455.9 ± 2.0 min).We conclude that starting 7 d prepartum, rumination patterns are altered in cows that suffer health disorders within 30 DIM. Rumination time is reduced in cows that suffer MDZ (DA, KET, IND) and MET but not in cows with RP and MAST