Eco-Friendly Construction Materials for Livestock Housing Systems

This article presents a comprehensive review of sustainable and eco-friendly construction materials for livestock housing systems, with emphasis on their efficacy in ameliorating thermal stress and enhancing animal welfare. Environmental changes directly influence livestock productivity and reproduction, with climate-induced alterations reducing production efficiency by approximately 58.3% and reproductive performance by 63.3%. This article examines diverse eco-friendly materials including bamboo, paddy straw, hempcrete, geopolymers, and agricultural by-products (wool and goat hair), along with modifications to roof, bedding, and floor systems. Comparative analysis reveals that materials such as sheep wool provide thermal conductivity of 0.044 W/m-K and exceptional moisture absorption capacity (25-30% of body weight), while bamboo demonstrates compressive strength of 40 MPa and superior flexibility. Case studies from research institutions demonstrate that green roofing systems and paddy straw insulation reduce internal temperatures by 9.81°C and improve milk yield by 114 kg per cow during standard lactation. The utilization of locally available agricultural and livestock by-products offers economically viable solutions for sustainable and climateadaptive livestock housing, significantly reducing construction costs without compromising performance or animal welfare.