Cows in lockdown

New research led by Queen's University Belfast has found that "livestock lockdown" may also damage emotional wellbeing in dairy cows. The research has been published in the Nature journal Scientific Reports. Dr Gareth Arnott, senior lecturer in animal behaviour and welfare at Queen's University and principal investigator on the research, explains: "Animal welfare scientists and dairy consumers have long been concerned that depriving dairy cattle of pasture access harms their welfare.

"Pasture access can promote natural behaviour, improve cows' health, and cows given the choice spend most of their time outside.