What do cows, dairy farmers and society want? This question formed the background to the study carried out by Wageningen UR Livestock Research into alternatives to the traditional cubicle-based housing. Recently, due to animal welfare considerations, there has been a greater focus on providing cows with more space and reducing the amount of concrete and ironwork in their housing.

The bedded pack barn offers the opportunity to achieve this on the condition that the requirements for a hygienic and dry top layer (on the ground or floor) are complied with. The book ‘Prospects for bedded pack barns for dairy cattle’ clearly and concisely describes the perspective offered to dairy farmers by bedded pack barns.