Positive welfare in cattle goes beyond absence of disease and injury - specific behavioural indicators signal that animals are in a state of good psychological and physical wellbeing.
Positive welfare assessment is a shift from purely disease-and-injury-based monitoring toward understanding whether animals are actually thriving. Cows that play, explore, groom each other, approach humans voluntarily and rest contentedly are demonstrating positive states that indicate good welfare. This matters because farms can have low disease rates while still having animals that are chronically stressed, fearful or unstimulated. Adding positive welfare indicators to farm audits and certification schemes - not just absence of negative indicators - provides a more complete picture of animal experience. Supporting farmers who actively monitor and improve positive welfare behaviours is one way consumers can drive better outcomes.