Improved barns with outdoor access for better animal welfare

Improving cow welfare through outdoor access in barns enhances natural behaviours, reduces stress, and supports health via improved ventilation, sunlight exposure, and environmental enrichment. Features like sliding doors, Dutch doors, covered runways, and pasture rotation systems enable safe, weather-protected access while maintaining biosecurity. These measures align with the Five Freedoms, reduce respiratory disease and parasite risks, and support milk quality and economic resilience. Challenges include extreme weather management, infrastructure needs, and predator control. Supported by the EU Horizon 2020 programme (Grant No 101000770).