Animal Health & Welfare

SAC has made comparisons of the costs and benefits to welfare of dairy housing systems in the UK. These pages will explore the benefits of each system, giving advice on how to minimise the negative welfare impacts in each case.

Changing farming methods and the use of higher producing cattle are responsible for greater intensification of dairy production where the rationale is that high yielding cows may be unable to meet their nutritional demands through grazing. This has resulted in some management systems housing herds permanently, leading to zero grazing (continuous housing). In these cases, particular attention must be paid to conditions and management to minimise the challenges to welfare in such systems.

Indoor housing is thought to restrict the natural behaviour of dairy cattle and to contribute to a higher incidence of lameness and leg injuries. However, good management and careful housing design can minimise these problems especially through careful consideration to the following features:

• Housing type (cubicle or straw court)
• Design and size of feed face
• Maintenance of cow tracks
• Access to 'loafing areas'
• Development of good stock handling skills

For more details on these features please refer to the tabs below.

For comprehensive information on certification requirement for the National Dairy Farm Assured Scheme, please see their website under ‘Related internet links’.

SAC has expertise in the design of farm buildings through its Buildings Design Services group. Please contact your local advisory office for more information.