Glossary:Animal housing

Animal housing, a sub-indicator of the EU agri-environmental indicator manure management used in the Survey on agricultural production methods (SAPM), distinguishes different types of housing for farm animals. The indicator is very important for greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture (ammonia, but also nitrous oxide and methane) as well as for leaching and run-off of nitrate and phosphorus.

The following types of housing were distinguished in the SAPM:

cattle:

stanchion-tied stable - with solid dung and liquid manure;
stanchion–tied stable - with slurry;
loose housing - with solid dung and liquid manure;
loose housing - with slurry;
other: all types of animal houses not fitting the descriptions above.

pigs:

on partially slatted floors;
on completely slatted floors;
on straw-beds (deep litter-loose housing);
other: all types of animal houses not fitting the descriptions above, including 'conventional' type of stables on straw-beds with a thin layer of manure where the litter is removed regularly.

laying hens:

on straw-beds (deep litter-loose housing);
battery cages (all types);
battery cage with manure belt;
battery cage with deep pit;
battery cage with stilt house.

other:

all types of animal houses not fitting the descriptions above: housing for laying hens other than housing on straw-beds (deep litter-loose housing) and battery-cage types of housing; free-range systems, for keeping poultry while providing them with housing and allowing them to run free over a field or large enclosed area of land, are also included here.

Further information

Structure of agricultural holdings (ESMS metadata file - ef_esms)
Survey on agricultural production methods (background article on the organisation and list of characteristics surveyed)

Related concepts

Statistical data