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Considerations for Out-Wintering the Dairy Herd

Summary

Quests for profitability and increased public interest in farm animal welfare have fostered a need to investigate winter housing options for low-input and organic dairy herds. Dairy cattle are commonly housed outdoors during the winter months in New Zealand and Ireland. Housing options in Minnesota, which has much colder winters, include tie-stall barns, free-stall barns, compost barns, and "out-wintering" on bedded packs with wind shelters.