Research has identified reliable indicators of positive emotional states in cattle including play behaviour, ear posture, and approach behaviour; these enable welfare assessment beyond deficit measurement.
The scientific validation of positive welfare indicators for cattle enables a richer welfare assessment that captures genuine wellbeing rather than merely absence of suffering. Play is among the most robust positive indicators — cattle calves play extensively in enriched environments and this play declines with illness, stress, or social disruption. Ear posture provides a rapid, non-invasive indicator of emotional state that farmers can learn to read as part of daily welfare monitoring.