Growing evidence for positive emotional states in cattle has important implications for how we assess and provide for cattle welfare beyond the prevention of suffering.
The recognition that cattle experience positive emotional states, not just the absence of negative ones, has profound implications for what constitutes good cattle welfare. Systems designed only to minimise suffering may not provide conditions for thriving. Cattle that can access pasture, social contact, and environmental complexity show behavioural evidence of positive states. Incorporating positive welfare assessment into cattle management creates a higher standard of care than minimum suffering prevention alone.