The aim of graduation thesis was to present the different housing systems of dairy cows and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of each system. We were interested in how different housing systems of dairy cows effect on animal welfare, animal health and production results. In Slovenia, on farms with cattle are dominated by smaller and tied-in housing system. On the farms that are choosing to enlarge the herd and increase the volume of milk production, they are introducing more modern systems of housing for animals in free barns with or without cubicles. In this graduation thesis we present different housing systems for dairy cows and young stock, either free barn with cubicles, free barn on depth straw or even combination with grazing and access to pasture. We also introduced innovative housing systems such as useful compost barns and modern barns from the Netherlands, the so-called ‘’Cow Garden’’ housing system. We also presented some examples of good practices for achieving optimal housing and rearing conditions in the context of animal health and welfare, achieving adequate hygiene standards in barns and the positive and harmless effects of animal placement on the environment. With these factors in mind we can optimize a particular animal husbandry and achieve successful productivity in systems that are animal and environmentally friendly.
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