Farm Animal Welfare

Dairy Cow Comfort: Cubicle Design and Lying Time

How cubicle design affects dairy cow lying time, a critical welfare indicator.

Key Facts

Dairy cows need 10-14 hours of lying time daily for rumen function and limb health
Poorly designed cubicles cause cows to spend significant time perching or standing outside the stall
Mattress quality, lunge space, and partition design all significantly affect cubicle comfort and use
Lameness rates are inversely correlated with lying time on dairy farms

Welfare Considerations

Lying time deprivation is a pervasive welfare issue in housed dairy systems, linked to lameness, mastitis, and metabolic disease. Cubicle design is a one-time investment that pays welfare and productivity dividends for the life of the housing system.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards that specify minimum lying time and cubicle design criteria
Advocate for regular lying time monitoring as a welfare audit requirement
Choose dairy products from farms that publish lying time and lameness rate data