Many dairy cattle spend significant portions of their lives housed indoors. The welfare of housed cattle depends critically on stall design, bedding quality, and opportunities for natural behaviour.
Indoor dairy housing systems vary enormously in their welfare outcomes. Well-designed cubicle systems with appropriate stall dimensions, rubber mats, and adequate bedding allow dairy cows to rest comfortably and maintain normal lying behaviour. Poorly designed systems — with short, narrow stalls, slippery floors, and inadequate drainage — cause chronic lameness, reluctance to lie down, and musculoskeletal injury. Lameness is the most significant welfare indicator in dairy herds; its prevalence reflects the cumulative effect of floor quality, stall design, stockmanship, and transition management. High welfare indoor systems require investment in facility design and ongoing monitoring. The welfare and productivity case for this investment is strong: lame cows produce less milk and leave the herd earlier, generating both welfare and economic costs.