Technical and Structural Adequacy of Dairy Cattle Housing in Rural Areas: A Case Study from Kadınhanı District, Konya Province, Turkey

This study was conducted to determine the structural characteristics of dairy cattle barns on 20 farms engaged in dairy farming in the Kadınhanı district of Konya Province, Turkey. All barns were of the tie-stall , and their layout, cross-sections, construction materials, ventilation, and lighting conditions were examined on-site. The thermal transmittance coefficients of the structural elements were calculated to evaluate insulation levels. According to the findings, the average barn area per animal was determined to be 8 m². All barns were found to have insufficient thermal insulation, with an average transmittance coefficient of approximately 2,95 W/m2K. In the surveyed farms, it was determined that there were no designated compartments for sick animals or calves, which are critically important for animal health and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, the manure storage facilities were found to be inadequate the lighting ratio remained below the recommended 5% threshold, and ventilation was mostly provided through chimneys and ridge openings. Additionally, inadequate window surface area limited the efficiency of natural lighting. It was observed that most farms met their feed requirements through self-production, while veterinary services were generally outsourced. The study revealed that structural deficiencies in the barns, such as inadequate ventilation, low lighting ratios, substandard thermal insulation, the absence of compartments for sick animals and calves, insufficient manure storage facilities, and window surface areas inadequate to provide natural lighting, had negative impacts on animal welfare, production efficiency, hygiene conditions, and environmental sustainability. Accordingly, several structural and managerial recommendations were proposed to improve the current situation. In conclusion, the findings emphasize the necessity of planned and engineering-supported design, structural improvements, and facility regulations to ensure the sustainability of livestock operations in rural areas.