Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Lying Surface and Welfare

The surface on which dairy cows lie significantly affects their comfort, lying time, and lameness risk, with appropriate bedding being a key welfare intervention.

Key Facts

Deep sand bedding provides the best welfare outcomes for dairy cow comfort and lameness prevention
Mattresses with adequate bedding reduce hock lesions compared to bare rubber or concrete
Cows on deep sand show higher lying times than those on mattresses or concrete
Wet bedding from poor drainage causes skin irritation and increases digital dermatitis risk
Investment in good bedding provides returns through reduced lameness treatment costs

Welfare Considerations

Lying surface profoundly affects dairy cow comfort and health. Cows denied adequate soft, dry lying surfaces experience discomfort during rest that reduces lying time below biological requirements, impairing rumen function and increasing disease risk. Appropriate bedding is a fundamental welfare investment.

What You Can Do

Advocate for bedding quality standards in dairy welfare certification
Support adoption of deep sand or high-quality bedding in dairy housing design
Choose dairy products from farms demonstrating attention to lying surface welfare