Housing and facility design directly affect cow comfort, health, and long-term productivity. Canadian dairy cattle are housed in a variety of systems—loose housing, free stalls, tie stalls, or hutches—with or without pasture access. Regardless of the system, producers share a common responsibility: to provide environments that support cattle comfort, safety, and natural behaviours.
This article highlights key requirements and best practices to help producers align with housing standards while building toward the future of sustainable dairy production.
Facility Design and Maintenance
Well-designed and well-maintained facilities set the foundation for cow health. Flooring, lighting, and restraint equipment should allow cattle to move easily and minimize injury or stress.
Requirements:
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Housing, flooring, and equipment must be kept in good condition to prevent lameness and injury.
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Electrified crowd gates are not permitted.
Recommended practices:
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Work with engineers, technical advisors, and peers when planning or renovating facilities.
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Use soft, high-traction flooring where cattle stand for long periods.
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Routinely observe cow walking patterns to identify slippery or abrasive surfaces.
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Limit the time cows spend on concrete and clean alleys 2–3 times per day.
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Address balking behaviour by improving lighting and flooring conditions.
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Ensure restraint devices avoid pressure points and are located in well-lit areas.
Calf Housing (Pre-Weaning)
Calf housing is a pivotal stage in long-term herd development. Management strategies such as clean bedding, good ventilation, colostrum management, and attentive observation all reduce stress and disease risk. Research consistently shows that calves raised in pairs or small groups benefit from improved growth, learning, and social behaviours.
Requirements:
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Calves must be able to stand, lie, groom, and turn fully within their housing.
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Group pens must allow all calves to rest at once.
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Indoor calves must not be tethered.
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Producers relying on individual housing must have a plan to transition to paired or group housing.
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Effective April 1, 2031: healthy calves must be housed in pairs or groups by 4 weeks of age.
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Outdoor-housed calves must have physical contact with another calf, unless separated for health or weather reasons.
Recommended practices:
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Pair or group calves by 2–3 weeks of age for social and welfare benefits.
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Keep group sizes small (<8–10 calves) to minimize respiratory disease.
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Use all-in/all-out systems to reduce disease risk.
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Choose hutches that allow social contact, such as shared outdoor areas.
Heifer Housing
As heifers grow, their needs change. Housing systems should be flexible enough to adapt to these requirements while promoting good development.
Requirements:
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Housing must allow heifers to lie, stand, groom, and have visual/physical contact with other cattle.
Recommended practices:
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Provide daily pasture or exercise yard access, weather permitting.
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Group heifers by size and age for better compatibility and reduced competition.
Lactating and Dry Cows
Loose housing and tie stalls each have advantages, but the trend is clear: dairy housing is moving toward systems that provide greater freedom of movement and opportunities for social interaction. Research shows that outdoor access and less restrictive housing improve hoof health, reduce lameness, and support natural behaviours.
Requirements:
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Housing must allow cows to lie, stand, groom, and interact with other cattle.
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Effective April 1, 2027: cows may not be tethered continuously through their entire production cycle. They must have regular opportunities for untethered movement.
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New barns must be designed to allow daily untethered freedom of movement and year-round social interaction.
Recommended practices:
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Provide ~50 hours of outdoor access in a four-week period, conditions permitting.
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Build covered exercise yards in wetter climates.
Breeding Bulls
Bulls require secure housing that promotes safety while minimizing isolation stress.
Requirements:
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Housing must allow bulls to stand, lie, groom, turn, and mount safely.
Recommended practices:
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Provide at least 18 m² (194 ft²) of space per bull.
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If housed separately, ensure visual contact with other cattle.
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Build secure pens that allow feeding and watering without entering the pen.
Looking Ahead
Canadian dairy producers are steadily moving toward more socially sustainable systems that provide cattle with increased freedom of movement and social housing opportunities. Meeting these requirements not only supports animal health and welfare but also builds consumer trust and positions the industry for the future.
👉 For full details, refer to Section 2.1 and 2.2 of the NFACC Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle.
