Resting and social behaviour of dairy heifers housed in slatted floor pens with different sized bedded lying areas (1997)

Nielsen, L. H., Mogensen, L., Krohn, C. et al.

Abstract

Increasing the bedded lying area from 1.8 to 2.7 sq.m per heifer .. increased the synchronization of the resting behaviour, decreased the incidence of aggression and decreased the frequency of leaning [against other herd members]. These results suggest that welfare is enhanced by increasing the bedded area from 1.8 to 2.7 sq.m per heifer.