Housing strategies to reduce the carbon footprint and improve animal welfare in dairy farming

This chapter focuses on the importance of housing strategies in dairy farming, and its impact on animal welfare and the carbon footprint. It begins by exploring the different types of dairy production systems, and then moves on to the effects of housing on productivity and emission intensity. The chapter then discusses trade-offs between sustaibability, welfare and production efficiency. Next, there is an examination of housing strategies to reduce emissions and waste, which includes pasture access management, increased stocking density, improved animal surveillance, improved diet quality, and manure management.