What happens when cows are allowed to decide for themselves whether they want to be indoors or outdoors? When calves grow up with their mothers, can visitors observe the animals, everyday life in the barn and the research—without disturbing them? An Invited Review on the “dairy barn of the future,” published in the Journal of Dairy Science, answers this question. The concept focuses on a family herd with cow-calf contact, a large free-lying area, year-round access to pasture or paddocks, automation and sensor technology—and a visitor corridor for a safe viewing of everyday life in the barn.
Cows with freedom of choice: How the ‘dairy barn of the future’ could improve animal welfare
