loose housing system

agriculture

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June 30, 2026

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The loose-housing system is a method of dairy cattle management where animals are kept freely in a barn, often with access to an outdoor yard. They are then taken to separate areas for milking and feeding. This system, developed in the United States after World War II, allows animals more freedom of movement compared to traditional stall barns where each animal is tied in a stall. The loose-housing system can include various types of bedding, such as straw or sawdust, or utilize free stalls, slatted floors, or sloped concrete. Modern dairy farms using loose housing typically incorporate a milking parlor, which can be stationary or rotary.12

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farm building
Livestock barns and shelters
… (or stanchion barn) and the loose-housing system. In the stall barn each animal is tied up in a stall for resting, feeding, milking, and watering. The typical plan has two rows of stalls. In older buildings hay and straw are stored in an overhead loft, but in modern layouts adjacent…
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… (or stanchion barn) and the loose-housing system. In the stall barn each animal is tied up in a stall for resting, feeding, milking, and watering. The typical plan has two rows of stalls. In older buildings hay and straw are stored in an overhead loft, but in modern layouts adjacent…
Read More