User's Manual

4.5 Interpreting the graphs

To assist in identifying unusual behaviour patterns it is useful to know the expected range of

“normal” behaviours.

Whilst this can vary between farms, the table below shows the typical ranges for Motion Index,

Step Count and Lying Time.

Behaviour Measure Indoor Grazing

Motion Index 5000-10000 10000+ (can be as high as

30000, 40000 depending on

how far cows have to walk to

pasture)

Step Count 1000-3000 (generally around

1/4 of the Motion Index)

3000-10000

Lying time 8-16 hours. Note that scientific

experts recommend that dairy

cows should lie for 12 hours per

day

Low herd or individual lying

times could be an indicator of

several factors including illness

or cow comfort issues.

8-16 hours (often higher

outdoors than indoors)

Jensen, M.B., L.J. Pedersen, and L. Munksgaard. 2005. The effect of reward duration on demand functions

for rest in dairy heifers and lying requirements as measured by demand functions. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci.

90:207-217