Research published in 2026 provides updated evidence on welfare outcomes in zero-grazing dairy systems, clarifying which management factors most influence individual cow welfare.
The 2026 AHDB study confirmed that system type alone does not determine welfare outcomes — management quality, flooring, social group stability and stockmanship are all more predictive of individual animal welfare than whether cows have outdoor access. Zero-grazing systems with rubber flooring, well-designed cubicles, stable social groups and highly trained stockpeople achieved welfare outcomes comparable to well-managed outdoor systems on most indicators. The research supports welfare-outcome monitoring over system prescription as the primary policy lever.