Both methods allow the animal the freedom to stand and lie down comfortably. Cleanliness is extremely important for the health and comfort of the animals.
Barns are well ventilated and well lit.
Dairy cows housed in stalls are often, but not always, tethered by means of a collar. These devices are designed to be safe and comfortable and keep cows in their stalls while allowing for uninhibited body movement when the cow rises or lies down. The farmer uses milking machines to milk dairy cows housed in these tie-stall barns in their own stall. Free-stall barns allow dairy cows to move around through out the barn and lay down in any stall. Some parlours may have computerized or robotic milking machines, which allow the cows to be milked in a lesser amount of time with the farmer being able to collect information such as how much milk, each cow is producing.