Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Cattle: Pasture-Based Systems and Welfare

Pasture-based cattle systems offer significant welfare advantages through outdoor access, natural behaviour expression, and reduced metabolic disease risk.

Key Facts

Grazing cattle on pasture allows expression of natural foraging and locomotor behaviour
Outdoor access reduces lameness compared to year-round housing in dairy cattle
Metabolic disease risk is generally lower in pasture-based systems due to higher fibre intake
Challenges in pasture-based systems include heat stress, fly burden, and variable feed quality
Seasonal grazing systems require careful transition management to avoid digestive welfare problems

Welfare Considerations

Pasture access represents a significant welfare benefit for cattle through natural behaviour expression, appropriate diet, and freedom to move in meaningful ways. The welfare advantages of well-managed pasture systems are well-documented and include lower lameness prevalence, better immune function, and more natural social behaviour expression. Transitions from housing to pasture and back require careful management to prevent digestive upset.

What You Can Do

Maximise outdoor pasture access for cattle where system and climate allow
Manage pasture transitions carefully with gradual introduction to spring grass
Provide shade in field areas to reduce heat stress during summer
Choose dairy and beef products from pasture-based systems where available
Support farming policy that values outdoor access as a welfare standard