Cattle evolved as grazing animals, and access to pasture is a central welfare requirement. The shift toward zero-grazing indoor systems raises serious questions about the welfare cost of modern dairy and beef production.
The question of pasture access reflects a fundamental tension between economic and welfare imperatives in cattle farming. High-producing dairy breeds are increasingly kept indoors year-round, where nutrition can be precisely managed but behavioral needs are severely restricted. Welfare research overwhelmingly shows that cattle prefer pasture when given a choice. The positive emotions shown at turnout — exuberant running and jumping — indicate that housing represents a deprivation that the animals themselves experience. Consumer demand for pasture-raised products is one of the most direct drivers of welfare improvement in this area.