Housed dairy cows spend approximately 4 -5 hours per day eating, and normally stand on a concrete surface during this time. However, concrete surfaces are known to contribute to hoof lesions, and subsequent lameness problems. It has been suggested that improving cow comfort at the feeding area, for example, by providing a more ‘comfortable’ standing surface, may promote total dry matter (DM) intake, and improve hoof health and cow welfare. This study was designed to examine the effect on food intake and cow behaviour of placing matting along the standing area behind a feed barrier.