Natural ventilation is one of the most effective and sustainable ways to maintain a healthy environment in dairy buildings. By harnessing wind and the natural stack effect, warm air produced by livestock rises and escapes through roof outlets, drawing fresh air into the building through side openings. This constant movement of air helps remove moisture, heat and harmful gases, improving air quality and supporting better respiratory health for dairy cows.

Fresh air also helps create a more comfortable environment, reducing heat stress and supporting overall herd performance. When ventilation openings are designed to allow more daylight into the building, increased natural light can further benefit cow productivity while improving working conditions for farm staff.  Another key advantage of natural ventilation is that it uses naturally occurring air, which is completely free. This makes it a highly energy-efficient solution for modern dairy housing.

However, many farm buildings lack sufficient ridge openings or side inlets for effective air exchange. Specialist solutions such as ridge ventilation systems can significantly improve airflow while also increasing light levels, helping farmers create a healthier, brighter environment for their dairy herds. Side curtains, such as the Galebreaker VVS, provide an ideal environment by optimising the ventilation levels based on weather conditions.

Find out how this farmer improved lameness and productivity within his herd through simple building changes.

Cows are susceptible to a combination of heat and humidity – measured by the Temperature Humidity Index (THI). The impact of heat stress on cow comfort and productivity varies by the intensity and duration of the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) experienced. This brochure provides you with tips on spotting the signs of thermal stress in your herd – the brochure also provides advice on solutions for reducing cow temperature. THI-Live.com provides information on how THI is affecting livestock performance in other similar sheds across the UK and Europe. Sign up to our weekly THI summary here.

Heat stress poses significant costs for dairy farmers, as shown by a government-funded study involving Galebreaker. Non-ventilated housing led to reduced feed intake, lying time, and milk production. Over four weeks, cows in poorly ventilated sheds lost an average of 50 litres of milk each, costing £2,500 for a 200-cow herd—far more than the 18 litres lost in the sheds ventilated with Galebreaker VentTube Cool. Improved ventilation not only reduced heat stress but also enhanced cows’ resilience to it. Mark and Anita Saunders who took part in the study commented “So far the investment in Galebreaker VentTube Cool has been worth it to keep the cows comfortable and maintain the output as much as possible in adverse weather.”