Access to pasture significantly improves cattle welfare by enabling natural behaviours, reducing disease, and providing positive experiences. Understanding the evidence helps guide consumer choices and policy advocacy.
Cattle evolved as grazing animals, and access to pasture enables a richer behavioural repertoire than indoor housing alone. Grazing involves continuous foraging behaviour that occupies cattle mentally and physically. Cattle on pasture walk further, have better hoof health from natural surfaces, and show lower rates of stereotypic behaviour. The exuberant play and running observed when cattle are released to spring pasture after confinement is compelling evidence of positive affect associated with outdoor access. Zero-grazing systems — common in high-yield dairy — provide adequate nutrition but deprive cows of the welfare benefits of outdoor life.