Behavioural indicators of cow comfort: activity and resting behaviour of dairy cows in two types of housing

We explored which aspects of dairy cow behaviour provide measures of cow co mfort and how housing affects resting time. Following a crossover design, w e observed the behaviour of eight lactating Holstein cows kept for three we eks in stalls believed to represent a contrast in comfort. Cows individuall y housed in large pens with a mattress flooring lay down 4.2 h d(-1) longer than cows housed in tie-stalls on a concrete floor, while cows in tie-stal ls stood idle (without eating) for longer. Cows stood up and lay down more often in the large pens and the duration of individual standing bouts was l onger in tie-stalls. We found no differences in eating time and few differe nces in body, head or leg positions cows assumed while lying. There was lit tle evidence of diurnal rhythm in activity. A lower frequency of standing a nd lying and an increase in the duration of lying bouts suggests that in ti e-stalls cows are more reluctant to change position from lying to standing. The type of pen or stall in which cows are housed can have a substantial i mpact on resting time. The duration and frequency of lying behaviour and th e time spent standing without eating appear to be probable behavioural indi cators of cow comfort.