Male dairy calves have no role in milk production and their welfare is a significant concern across different management approaches globally.
Male dairy calf welfare represents a consequence of dairy production that consumers rarely consider. Every glass of milk is associated with the birth of equal numbers of male and female calves, and the male calves have limited commercial value in conventional systems. In some countries, male calves are killed at birth as the most 'efficient' solution - a welfare outcome that creates discomfort even for many who accept dairy farming generally. Veal production provides an alternative market but traditional white veal systems that confine calves in small stalls on low-iron diets create significant welfare problems through restriction of movement and deliberate anemia. Rose veal systems that provide calves with more space, outdoor access, and appropriate nutrition produce better welfare outcomes while providing a market that prevents on-farm killing. Developing viable markets for male dairy calves through dairy-beef crosses and improved veal systems is both a welfare priority and an economic challenge for the industry.