The electrical resistance of dairy cattle includes internal body resistance and resistance of pathway contacts. Partitioning resistance into various segments is useful for assessing relative contributions of each component and for modeling the effects of varying contact resistance on total pathway resistance. Resistance of 6 pathways through 20 lactating cows housed in a free-stall barn were measured: mouth to all hooves (M4), mouth to front hooves, mouth to rear hooves, front to rear hooves (FTR), mouth to flank, and flank to rear hooves. Electrical contacts were applied with a horse bit in the mouth, hooves on separate metal grids with a manure covering, and a 5 × 5 cm aluminum probe applied to the flank with a wet hair coat. Body resistance (ohms) was modeled and partitioned into 4 components: head and neck (HN), front legs (FL), abdomen (A), and rear legs (RL). The median resistance for NH, FL, A, and RL were 106 ± 3, 195 ± 5, 11 ± 1, and 184 ± 4 ohms (Ω), respectively. Contact resistance of the hooves can potentially change due to wet versus dry concrete, wet versus dry manure, wet hooves, presence of bedding, and loss of hoof integrity. Based on the model, assuming individual hoof contact resistance increases by 40 Ω, then the modeled M4 and FTR pathway resistance increase by 10 and 40 Ω, respectively. Assuming lameness causes a loss in hoof integrity and lowers individual hoof resistance by 50%, then the modeled M4 and FTR resistance are estimated to decrease by 19 and 65 Ω with a lame front hoof. Additional research is needed to (a) confirm whether the model component estimates are consistent between a research facility and commercial dairy operations; and (b) refine estimates of environmental factors on contact resistance.