Identification of Lying Postures Responsive to Bedding Material Replacement in Japanese Black Fattening Cattle (Bos...

This study examined the effects of bedding material replacement, bed management practice for improving bed cleanliness, on lying behavior and lying posture in cattle. Eight Japanese Black fattening cattle (Bos taurus) were observed for 24 h before and after bedding material replacement. Lying postures were systematically classified based on head (lifted, tucked, extended) and forelimb and hindlimb positions (number of extended limbs: 0-2). The duration, frequency, and bout duration of lying behavior and each lying posture were compared between cleaned and dirty conditions using ANOVA. Under cleaned conditions, lying duration and bout duration increased but lying frequency decreased (p < 0.05, each). The duration of lying postures with the head lifted and all limbs tucked, as well as with tucked head and all limbs tucked, increased under cleaned conditions (p < 0.05, each). Duration and bout duration of the tucked limbs increased (p < 0.05, each) while duration and frequency of lying with extended hindlimbs tended to decrease (p < 0.1, each). These results suggest that cleaned bedding material promotes more compact lying postures, particularly those with limbs tucked and either lifted or tucked head positions, highlighting the potential association of these lying postures with cattle responses to bed management.