Dairy farmers’ willingness and barriers to transitioning from tie-stall to loose housing under a potential European ban: evidence from the Veneto region (Italy)

A potential ban on tie-stall housing for cattle in the European Union raises concerns about the sustainability of dairy farms, particularly in marginal rural areas. This study assessed dairy farmers’ willingness to transition from tie-stall to loose housing systems and identified the main barriers to this change. A structured questionnaire was administered to dairy farmers using tie-stall systems in the Veneto region (Northern Italy). Out of 244 eligible farms, 192 participated in the survey (78.7% response rate). Farmers’ willingness to change (WTC) was assessed using a 10-point Likert scale (1 = no willingness, 10 = full willingness). Overall, farmers showed a low inclination to adopt loose housing systems (mean WTC = 3.23 ± 3.01), with 57.8% expressing no intention to change (score = 1). Higher WTC was associated with younger farmer age, larger herd size, higher declared income and recent barn renovation, whereas advanced age, smaller herd size, limited farmland and lack of additional labour reduced WTC. Financial constraints were the main perceived barrier, followed by space limitations and difficulties in obtaining building permits. Cluster analysis identified three farmer profiles characterised by different levels of WTC and perceived constraints. The cluster of 70 farmers with the lowest WTC was mainly composed of small farms run by older farmers, with limited resources and poor prospects for succession. These findings highlight the need for targeted policy measures, such as financial incentives, streamlined regulatory procedures, and support for farm succession, to facilitate the transition while mitigating the potential socio-economic and environmental impacts of the closure of small dairy farms.