Feed access competition in cattle groups causes significant welfare compromise, with dominant animals monopolizing feed while subordinates face chronic stress from social exclusion at the feed barrier.
Subordinate cattle in competitive feeding situations experience the chronic stress of social defeat combined with nutritional restriction when feed access is limited by dominant herd members. This stress affects immune function, fertility, and milk production. Management of feed access is both a welfare and productivity intervention that is achievable through appropriate system design and stocking density management.