Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Welfare and Zero Grazing Systems

Zero grazing systems keep cattle permanently housed, removing access to pasture. This creates welfare challenges that must be addressed through high-quality housing and management.

Key Facts

Zero grazing systems house cattle year-round without pasture access
Housing quality including space, bedding, and ventilation is critical in zero grazing
Lying time, lameness, and stereotypy are key welfare concerns in housed systems
Environmental enrichment is more important in zero grazing than in pasture systems
Some high-welfare zero grazing systems provide superior care to poor-quality pasture systems

Welfare Considerations

Zero grazing removes the welfare benefits of pasture access - natural behaviour, exercise, and environmental complexity. Compensating through high-quality housing and enrichment is possible but requires significant investment and management.

What You Can Do

Support farms providing high-quality housing in zero grazing systems
Advocate for strong housing welfare standards as a condition of zero grazing certification
Learn about the welfare trade-offs in different cattle production systems
Choose dairy products with transparent welfare monitoring including pasture access data