Bedding quality in dairy cow housing directly affects welfare through its impact on lying comfort, hygiene, and lameness. Investment in high-quality bedding improves welfare and production outcomes.
Bedding quality is one of the most practical and impactful welfare interventions available in dairy cow housing. Deep sand bedding is the gold standard, providing cushioning, thermal properties, and resistance to bacterial growth. However, good-depth rubber mattresses with adequate straw topping also achieve acceptable outcomes. The minimum threshold is a lying surface that does not cause hock swellings, which are both a welfare indicator and a sign of inadequate cushioning. Regular bedding assessment using hock lesion scoring guides management decisions.