Providing enrichment for dairy calves improves their welfare beyond the prevention of negative states. Understanding what constitutes meaningful enrichment guides practical implementation.
Dairy calf welfare has historically been assessed primarily through disease and mortality indicators, which capture the absence of negative welfare but not the presence of positive experiences. Enrichment research reveals that calves have strong motivations for exploration, play and social interaction that represent important positive welfare states. Calves provided with brushes groom themselves more than provision allows through mutual grooming with other calves, showing that the drive exists independently of social contact. Play behaviour - running, jumping and performing bucking movements - indicates contentment and positive affect that is suppressed by pain or fear. Enrichment programmes that support positive welfare states represent an important advancement beyond minimum welfare provision.