Lying time and the welfare of dairy cows

What is it about?

Adequate time lying down is often considered an important aspect of dairy cow welfare. We examine what is known about cows' motivation to lie down and the consequences for health and other indicators of biological function when this behavior is thwarted.

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Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

Photo by Andy Kelly on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Being able to lie down is a high priority for dairy cows, and animal welfare can be at risk when this behavior is thwarted. Lying behavior should be facilitated on farms through the provision of soft, dry, clean, accessible, well-designed, and appropriately sized lying areas and limited exposure to constraints such as long milking, restraint, or feeding times, or hot or rainy weather. The status of the cow, including her reproductive status, days since calving, age, and disease burden also influence how much time she spends lying and should be considered, along with details about the suitability of the housing and management, when interpreting measures of daily lying time in the assessment of animal welfare.