Cow lying behaviour and bedding quality changes during five weeks on a stand-off pad

Bedding quality, cow dirtiness and gait score were assessed over 5 weeks in a hybrid pasture system, and compared with lying time. Non-lactating dairy cows were divided into 2 replicates of 100 cows paired with fresh bedding comparison groups (FB) of 16 cows each. Cows were kept on a stand-off pad of woodchips for 18h/d at a space allowance of 5.4 m2 /cow, with 6 h/d on pasture for 5 weeks. Lying times were recorded continuously for 60 cows per replicate using Onset Pendant G data loggers. Gait score and dirtiness score of the same 60 cows was recorded once a week on 5-point scales. Bedding moisture content was measured weekly in 10 stratified 25 x 40 cm quadrat samples across the stand-off pad. Data for each group were analysed separately with their appropriate FB group using repeated measures, formulated as a mixed model and fitted in GenStat18. Lying time declined over the five weeks from 11.6 h/day during the first week to 5.6 h/day during the fifth week (SED = 0.3; F1,25= 351.56; p<0.001). The moisture content of the bedding increased over the 5 weeks and was significantly higher (Group 1: F5,59= 8.33; p<0.001; Group 2: F5,61= 5.54; p<0.001), than the comparable FB groups. This study has demonstrated that during 5 weeks on a stand-off pad, bedding quality deteriorated, cows got dirtier and lay down less to such an extent that welfare was compromised.