Rose veal production in the UK offers improved welfare conditions for male dairy calves that would otherwise be shot at birth or exported.
Group housing with adequate space and roughage access allows calves to express natural behaviours including play and social interaction. Compared to white veal systems, rose veal provides dramatically better welfare outcomes. The key welfare challenge is transport: some calves are still exported to the continent for veal production under poorer conditions, which remains an active welfare concern.