Behavioral Responses to Welfare-Friendly Lighting Management in Dairy Cows: A Comparative Study

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Published: May 18, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.41598
Keywords:
dairy cow welfare lighting management red light behavioral observation prepartum Holstein cows
MA Karatzia
Research Institute of Animal Science, ELGO-DIMITRA, 58100 Paralimni, Greece,
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2452-586X
C Adamakopoulou
Veterinary Research Institute, Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos—DIMITRA, ELGO-DIMITRA Campus,570 01 Thermi, Greece
A Frantzis
Veterinary Research Institute, Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos—DIMITRA, ELGO-DIMITRA Campus,570 01 Thermi, Greece
EN Sossidou
Veterinary Research Institute, Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos—DIMITRA, ELGO-DIMITRA Campus,570 01 Thermi, Greece
Abstract

Lighting is a critical environmental factor influencing the behavior, physiology, and welfare of dairy cows. This study investigates the effects of welfare-friendly lighting management—specifically the use of red-light during nighttime—on the behavioral patterns of prepartum Holstein cows. Seven consecutive trials were conducted over a three-month period on a commercial dairy farm in Central Macedonia. Cows in the far-off dry period were monitored under both conventional and red-light (welfare-friendly) nighttime conditions. Behavioral observations were recorded using surveillance cameras and analyzed with The Observer XT software, applying a detailed ethogram to assess lying, standing, feeding, ruminating, and interactive behaviors. Under conventional lighting, lying was the dominant behavior, accounting for an average of 32.37% of total time, followed by ruminating (11.87%) and standing (16.93%). In contrast, cows exposed to red nighttime lighting exhibited more standing behavior (31.05%), followed by lying (25.13%) and ruminating (18.4%). Feeding behaviors were slightly more frequent under red light (12.1%) than conventional lighting (9.3%). Notably, "no ingestion"—a potential marker of inactivity or discomfort—was higher under welfare-friendly lighting (13.7%) compared to conventional conditions (8.4%). The positive-to-negative behavior ratio was used to assess welfare implications. Cows under welfare-friendly lighting demonstrated a slightly higher ratio (2.61:1) than those under conventional lighting (2.3:1), suggesting a modest improvement in overall welfare status. However, the elevated standing time under red light may indicate increased alertness or insufficient resting comfort, warranting further investigation. These findings suggest that welfare-friendly red lighting can support positive behaviors such as ruminating and feeding while potentially reducing stress-related behaviors. Yet, the nuanced shifts in standing and inactivity emphasize the need for careful optimization of lighting parameters, including duration, intensity, and spectral composition. This study contributes to the growing body of research promoting lighting systems that are both productive and ethically sound, offering insights for more sustainable and welfare-oriented dairy management practices.

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