Fretting Issue vs Bad Batteries

I have 6/2019 vintage Vector 3's (Dual) on my Trek. Recently I have started getting 'dropouts' which take the form of 5 to maybe 30 seconds of either no power at all or a 0 reading. Then things come back and a couple minutes later it repeats. 

The batteries that I am using are 'off brand' LR44's (making them suspect) but they only have maybe 25 hours on them. Is this behavior typical of the 'battery fretting' issue (I did not use oil between the 2 batteries)? I was just looking for the most likely culprit here. 

Thanks.

dave