Comparing Barns to Enhance Cow Welfare and Agricultural Sustainability

Abstract The research problem is the lack of a comprehensive comparative analysis of dairy barn designs, making the selection of the optimal model that balances sustainability and animal welfare complex. The importance of the study lies in developing an evidence-based analytical framework to support the adoption of efficient and sustainable barns that contribute to improving productivity and reducing environmental impact. The study aims to identify the optimal barn design model by reviewing the literature and conducting a comprehensive comparison between different models according to environmental, economic, and technological sustainability criteria. The results demonstrate that modern designs tend to achieve a balance between operational efficiency and animal welfare by combining simple, economically efficient, low-tech models with advanced models that rely on automation and smart monitoring. It also demonstrates that improving bedding and space, environmental management, the use of recyclable materials, and the application of smart technologies are essential elements for achieving integrated sustainability. The study indicates that integrating sustainable architecture with digital technologies enhances the quality of the indoor environment in barns and reduces heat stress, which positively impacts animal welfare and productivity. The findings recommend that the future direction of dairy barn design should focus on flexible models, such as design for disassembly that enable easy maintenance and reuse, along with the gradual application of digital control and environmental management to achieve integration between economic efficiency, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability.