Dairy and beef cattle in intensive housing are often denied sufficient space for natural social behaviour, creating chronic stress and competitive interactions that reduce individual welfare.
Cattle in overcrowded housing experience chronic social stress from competition for feed, water, lying space and access to milking. Lower-ranking cows in overstocked systems spend less time lying, eat less and show higher stress markers. Denial of pasture access removes the opportunity for natural exploratory and social behaviour that cattle exhibit through play and mutual grooming.