Male dairy calves are a byproduct of dairy production with limited commercial value in many markets, leading to welfare-compromised fates including early slaughter, inadequate veal production, or export.
The welfare of male dairy calves reflects the structural economic challenge of dairy production — half of all calves born cannot produce milk. Calves killed at birth avoid further suffering but represent an ethical challenge about animal use. Calves entering low-welfare veal or live export systems may experience significant welfare compromise. Solutions require either market development for male calves or technological prevention of male births.