<p>Citizens frequently judge animal welfare based on the assumed emotional impact on the animal and therewith the demands placed on animal husbandry. This study examines the perception of emotions and needs of cows and calves from a social and agricultural perspective, and whether farmers perceive the consumers’ right to have a say. Therefore, qualitative interviews with 15 farmers and 15 citizens were conducted. Both groups attributed a wide range of emotions to cows and calves but evaluated the resulting needs and the influence of emotions differently. Citizens viewed cows and calves as social and sensitive beings, with the bond between mother and calf taking center stage. This leads to the need for contact between mother and calf. In addition, important needs are seen in the husbandry environment, which also represents the main lever for influencing emotions for citizens. Farmers saw more opportunities to influence the emotions more in the direct daily contact with the animals and through health management and stress-free handling Farmers further believed that citizens have limited ability to accurately assess the emotions of cattle and rejected the idea of citizens having an influence on future housing systems. In turn, citizens attribute a high level of competence to farmers. This study contributes to a better understanding of the role that the perceived emotions and needs of cows and calves play in the perception and evaluation of dairy farming systems and how differences in views on conflict issues such as cow–calf separation can arise.</p>