Male calves born to dairy cows cannot produce milk and are often considered an economic liability. Their welfare is a significant and often overlooked issue in dairy production.
The dairy bull calf problem is a structural consequence of a production system that requires cows to calve annually to maintain milk production, but only values female offspring. The welfare response to this structural issue has followed several pathways: reducing male births through sexed semen; developing markets for male dairy calves as beef or veal; and improving the welfare of those raised for meat. Each pathway has welfare implications. Sexed semen technology is not perfect and carries efficiency costs. Veal markets in Europe have historically involved welfare-compromising systems — tethered housing and iron-deficient diets — though these have been banned or reformed in many countries. The rose veal alternative provides male calves with higher-welfare housing and diet. The worst outcome — culling at birth — avoids suffering from a poor life but raises questions about the ethics of a system that routinely produces unwanted sentient life.