Dairy Calf Rearing and Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Male dairy calves and surplus heifers face uncertain welfare outcomes. Improving the rearing of all dairy calves is an important welfare priority in the dairy industry.

Key Facts

Around 100,000 male dairy calves were killed at birth in the UK annually — this practice is declining
The UK phased out day-old calf slaughter through industry agreement
Rose veal — rearing male dairy calves in welfare-positive conditions — provides an alternative
Dairy calves are separated from their mothers within hours to days of birth
Calves have strong social needs and welfare improves in group rearing systems

Welfare Considerations

The dairy industry produces approximately equal numbers of male and female calves, but males of dairy breeds have limited value in beef production and have historically been killed or exported live as unwanted byproducts. The welfare implications are twofold: the male calves that are reared face the welfare challenges of veal production (potentially restrictive housing, anaemia, limited movement), and all calves face the distress of early maternal separation. Higher-welfare approaches include extended suckling or nurse cow systems that allow calves to nurse for several weeks, group rearing with social contact, and rearing male calves for rose veal under high-welfare conditions.

What You Can Do

Choose rose veal rather than white veal if purchasing veal products
Look for dairy products from cow-calf contact systems — emerging but growing
Advocate for retailers to support the purchase of male dairy calves for rose veal
Support campaigns to extend suckling periods before calf separation on dairy farms
Reduce dairy consumption to reduce pressure on the dairy calf welfare problem