Veal Production Welfare: From Crate to Pasture

Veal production methods vary dramatically in welfare quality from barren crate systems to outdoor rose veal, with the choice significantly impacting calf welfare.

Key Facts

Traditional white veal production confines calves in individual crates on low-iron diets
Crate veal is banned in the UK since 1990 and in the EU since 2006
Rose or pink veal from group-housed calves has significantly better welfare
UK rose veal uses male dairy calves that would otherwise be shot at birth
Better-welfare veal production reduces the practice of killing unwanted male dairy calves at birth

Welfare Considerations

Calves in traditional veal crates are unable to turn around, perform natural behaviours, or consume a diet meeting their nutritional needs. Iron deficiency causes anaemia producing the pale meat commercially valued in traditional markets. Social isolation prevents normal social development. Group-housed rose veal calves with access to roughage have dramatically better welfare outcomes including social interaction, normal behaviour expression, and appropriate nutrition. Killing male dairy calves at birth is instantaneous but wasteful; rose veal converts them to a welfare-acceptable food product.

What You Can Do

Choose rose veal over imported veal products from potentially less-regulated systems
Support UK rose veal producers who provide a welfare-acceptable alternative
Advocate for import restrictions on veal produced in banned crate systems
Ask retailers about the origin and welfare standard of their veal products
Support dairy farms that participate in rose veal programs rather than killing male calves at birth