Dairy cow trade-off preference for 2 different lying qualities: Lying surface and lying space

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Dairy Cattle Welfare
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Dairy cows are housed for extended periods, necessitating attention to their lying comfort.
• Optimizing lying comfort is crucial for dairy cow health and welfare in confinement settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess dairy cow preference between surface type and open lying space.
• To understand how to optimize lying comfort for housed dairy cows.

Main Methods:

• Twenty-four Holstein dairy cows were housed individually in pens with three distinct lying surfaces: sand, mattress, and straw.
• Cows underwent training periods with a single surface and freestall, followed by choice periods offering multiple surfaces with and without freestalls.

Main Results:

• Cows initially preferred straw and mattress surfaces when freestalls were present.
• When freestalls were removed, cows spent significantly more time on straw.
• In a trade-off scenario, 14 out of 19 cows chose an open lying space (second or third preference surface) over their most preferred surface with a freestall.

Conclusions:

• Dairy cows value an open lying space more than the specific surface type when making lying decisions.
• Providing adequate space in housing systems is paramount for enhancing dairy cow lying comfort and welfare.