Lying time is a critical welfare indicator for dairy cows, with cows requiring 10-14 hours daily and time budgets significantly affected by housing, stocking density, and management practices.
Dairy cow lying time welfare requires both adequate housing provision and management practices that allow cows to express their natural time budgets. Stocking density, milking routines, and housing quality all affect lying time. Using lying time as a welfare indicator creates accountability for housing welfare.