Dairy cows spend up to 12 hours per day lying in natural conditions, and restriction of lying time is a sensitive indicator of welfare problems in intensive systems.
Lying time is one of the most robust and measurable indicators of dairy cow welfare because it reflects pain, stress, and competition for resources. Cows with sore feet avoid lying because rising is painful; overstocked cows cannot access cubicles; heat-stressed cows rest less. Monitoring lying time provides an early warning system for emerging welfare problems before they become severe. Modern precision livestock technology makes continuous monitoring feasible and cost-effective.