Activity sensors worn by cows have the potential to detect not only heat but also the emotional state of the animal, bringing animal welfare to a new level, a study from the Digital Dairy Chain has found.

Usually worn as a heat detection aid, the data collected from activity sensors can predict whether farms were experiencing 'good' or 'challenged' welfare conditions by analysing how cows move, rest and behave together as a herd.

The research was carried out as part of Scotland’s Rural College-led strength in places programme in Scotland.

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“What’s exciting about this work is that we’re beginning to identify measurable signs of positive experiences – what a ‘happy cow’ actually looks like in behavioural data,” researcher Holly Ferguson said.

“The technology is already on many farms, so this could offer farmers a practical, low-labour way to better understand herd wellbeing, while also supporting assurance schemes and consumer confidence.”

Farm welfare checks generally focus on physical health and productivity measures such as lameness, disease or milk yield, but the research team say good welfare is about more than avoiding poor conditions, it’s about providing cows with an environment which allows them to express natural behaviours.

Holly added: “Animals can be healthy without necessarily experiencing positive emotional states. We wanted to explore whether technology already in use on farms could help identify signs of comfort, calmness and social harmony within dairy herds.”

Herd mentality

The researchers found that one of the strongest indicators of positive welfare was behavioural synchrony – cows resting and moving together consistently.

This is a known indicator of positive welfare, capturing the ability to express a herd mentality, which is often more prominent at pasture.

The research showed that herds showing more stable, synchronised behaviour at pasture and when housed were more likely classified as having good welfare, while disrupted patterns were linked to more challenged conditions.

Key findings

  • Farms with cows showing more consistent group resting behaviour were linked to better welfare outcomes.
  • Lower and more variable behaviour synchrony was associated with challenging welfare conditions.
  • Higher neck rail heights in housing systems were linked to improved cow comfort indoors, while cubicle dimensions below recommendations - including shorter beds caused by moving neck rails or brisket boards forward - were associated with poorer welfare.
  • Small changes on farm, such as moving neck rails or extending bed length indoors, could have a big impact on positive welfare in cows.

    • The sensor system predicted challenged welfare farms with up to 87% accuracy and good welfare farms with up to 80% accuracy.

    The project involved 15 dairy farmers across south and west Scotland and northern England, working in partnership with milk processors First Milk and Lactalis.