Access to pasture significantly improves dairy cow welfare, yet the trend in many countries is toward year-round indoor housing.
The shift toward year-round indoor dairy housing is driven by efficiency gains but comes at significant welfare cost. Indoor cows are more likely to be lame, have shorter productive lives, and show more stress-related behaviors. Pasture access allows cows to express the full range of natural behaviors that contribute to positive welfare states. The welfare benefit of pasture access is so well-documented that it has become a standard criterion in high-welfare certification programs.