Abstract

The potential thwarting of behaviors inherent to the nature of the dairy cow, particularly those she remains highly motivated to perform, can be considered as a violation of her telos. It also appears to elicit societal concerns as indicated by studies of public perceptions of dairy cow welfare. The public has become increasingly interested in the quality of life that cows are afforded in modern production systems and may become particularly critical relative to potential mismatches between cow ethology and living conditions. Some have suggested that members of the public may be more attuned to dairy cattle welfare issues than those of other livestock species, due in part to strong associations between dairy product consumption and childhood nutrition. Pasture access seems to be particularly important to public stakeholders, who associate it with access to fresh air, social living, freedom of movement, better cow health, and more healthful milk products.