Rose veal, produced from dairy bull calves reared to 6-8 months in the UK on a mixed diet, offers a higher-welfare alternative to continental white veal produced in restrictive individual crates on an all-milk diet.
Calves killed at birth experience acute welfare harm that is entirely preventable through rose veal production. Group-housed rose veal calves can express normal social behaviours, have sufficient iron for comfort, and access roughage that supports rumen development. The welfare argument for rose veal is that it creates economic value for a category of calves that would otherwise be considered waste products of dairy production, converting welfare harm into welfare improvement.