Farmed Animals

Environmental Enrichment for Cattle

Environmental enrichment for cattle promotes positive welfare by enabling natural behaviour and supporting positive emotional states.

Key Facts

Cattle use brushes when available, up to 90 minutes per day
Access to brushes reduces skin parasites and promotes positive affect
Play behaviour in young cattle indicates positive welfare states
Novelty and choice in the environment stimulate cattle exploration
Cattle in enriched environments show lower stress hormones

Welfare Considerations

Environmental enrichment for cattle addresses both physical and psychological welfare needs. Provision of brushes, novel objects, and varied sensory environments enables cattle to perform natural maintenance behaviours and explore their environment. Research demonstrates that enriched housing reduces stress and promotes positive welfare indicators including play and social grooming.

What You Can Do

Support welfare standards that include enrichment requirements for cattle
Advocate for brush provision as a baseline requirement in cattle housing
Choose beef and dairy products from enriched and higher welfare systems
Support research into effective enrichment strategies for cattle
Raise awareness about positive welfare indicators in cattle farming