Does a Cow Sleep Standing?

It's a common misconception that cows don't lie down to rest and that they sleep standing up, just like horses do much of the time. In fact, cows actually lie down for up to 14 hours per day, standing up every few hours, stretching and then lying back down again. While lying down, the cow's hooves get a rest from standing and a chance to dry off from any moisture she's encountered while wandering around. A cow who is lying down can properly digest her food. The blood circulation also increases throughout a cow's udders to help with her milk production while she is in a resting position.

While a cow might spend half the day lying down, she sleeps only a fraction of that time, simply relaxing the rest of the time. Our bovine friends spend around 3.9 hours each day sleeping, which is only 16.4 percent of a 24-hour period. This is half the amount an adult human sleeps each day. Cows usually don't sleep 3.9 hours straight, instead sleeping for shorter periods of time. A cow takes frequent naps throughout the day and especially the night, whch typically last between one and five minutes at a time, according to an article published in the May 2012 issue of "Applied Animal Behaviour Science." The rest of the time they are simply lying down in a drowsy, semi-awake state.

Cows need weatherproof stalls filled with soft, comfy material for them to lie on when they sleep. This bedding material must provide your cows with uniform support for their large bodies, stay dry to prevent the growth of pathogens and have a nonabrasive texture that won't scratch their skin. Common bovine bedding materials include paper, sand, compost, sawdust and straw. There are even waterproof cow beds available that are stuffed with soft materials inside, although cows tend to prefer some traditional bedding placed on top of them to lie on. You need to change a cow's bedding frequently to prevent it from becoming dirty and moist, which encourages harmful microorganisms from festering in it.

To obtain a sufficient amount of rapid eye movement sleep, which is the deepest and most important type of rest, a cow must be able to lie down and have enough room to do so. Cows can't enter REM sleep while standing and this can lead to sleep deprivation. A sleep-deprived cow can become irritable around her handlers and produce less milk. It's best to provide your bovines with enough room for them to lean forward and back in their stalls as they lie down. Give each cow plenty of room to stretch out when lying down, allowing room for their back or front legs to extend outward. This will keep them comfortable and prevent them from becoming sleep deprived.