Dairy cattle are at risk for ketosis (negative energy balance) after calving due to the sudden increase in energy demands for milk production during a time when feed intake is low. Previous work has shown that cows diagnosed with ketosis had longer standing times both before calving and on the day of calving compared with non-ketotic cows. All work in this area has focused on Holstein dairy cattle. Jersey cattle differ from Holstein cattle both in behavior and physiology and therefore may also differ in their relationship between lying behavior and ketosis status. The objective of this study was to describe the lying behavior of Holstein and Jersey cattle with and without subclinical ketosis (SCK) before and after calving. Lying behavior was monitored from 2 wk before calving to 2 wk after calving using data loggers (HOBO Pendant G Acceleration Data Logger, Onset, Bourne, MA) strapped to the hind leg of 35 Holstein cows and 45 Jersey cows. At 7 d after calving a Precision Xtra Cowside Test (Abbott Laboratories) was taken to measure b-Hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) in the blood. BHBA ≥1.2 mmol/L indicated a state of SCK. Lying times and lying bouts were analyzed using a mixed model, which included the fixed affects of parity, postpartum body condition score, ketosis status, week and the ketosis status by week and parity by ketosis status interaction. Data for the behavior on the day of calving was compared between groups independently. A week by SCK status interaction was detected (P < 0.001); cows with SCK had lower lying times before calving compared with non SCK cows (e.g., wk −1: 648 ± 32.7 vs 744 ± 15.7 min/day respectively). In the week following calving, SCK cows spent more time lying than non SCK cow (680 ± 32.7 vs 603 ± 15.7 min/day, respectively). Across all periods there was a tendency for SCK cows to have fewer lying bouts than cows without SCK (11 ± 1.7 vs 14 ± 0.8 bouts/day respectively; P = 0.075). Improved detection of ketosis could improve efficiency of treatment which is beneficial to the welfare of the cow and the profit of the dairy farm.