Dairy Cow Living Space and Lying Times: The Impact of Space Allowance on Environment-Host Interactions and Competition for Resources

Abstract

Abstract Dairy cow health and welfare is of critical importance to the industry. Citizens and consumers must accept husbandry practices in order to continue purchasing behaviours. A common management practice is the housing of dairy cows, with this method increasing in duration or turning to year-round housing. Housed infrastructure recommendations that improve a cow’s environment based on animal welfare are likely to simultaneously improve health and production, which have historically been used to assess environment suitability. The conditions within dairy cow housing are therefore fundamental to the sustainability of dairy farming and the well-being of farmed cattle. Although the majority of dairy cows are housed for a duration of time in a year, little scientific research has been undertaken to assess the fundamental impact on behaviours the housed infrastructure may have. Concerningly, even the most fundamental feature of the housed environment, living space, has limited evidence for how it affects dairy cows. This case study focuses on the results of a long-term randomized controlled trial that assessed the impact that increasing living space had on a group of high-yielding dairy cows. The trial was undertaken in a unique, purpose-built, robotic milking facility, which allowed internal layout reconfiguration. Location sensors were used to calculate daily time budgets and assess how cows interacted with the different living space options provided. There will be discussion based on how to assess the housed environment, questions to ask the herdsperson and differential diagnoses to explore. Information © The Authors 2023