This study examined the impact that the addition of roughage in the form of wheat straw or beet pulp to the standard diet of milk replacer to veal calves. This study examined the impacts forage inclusion in the diet would have on stress and welfare. The control animals were only fed milk replacer. The control calves performed more abnormal oral behaviours around meal times. Initially calves fed solid fed, demonstrated more chewing behaviours but the control calves were chewing at the same level as calves given straw by week 13 and those given beet pulp by week 17. The frequency of cross-suckling was low, it was most commonly observed at meal times. However, the provision of roughage did not affect the performance of cross-suckling. Offering roughage did not impact self-grooming and was not related to rumen hairballs. The control animals spent more time in contact with the milk bucket, while wheat straw fed calves spent more time in contact with the feed trough. There were not any significant differences in the cortisol levels amongst the treatments. The beet pulp fed calves had higher white blood cell count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and sodium levels and lower platelet counts, which may be due to the increase in iron intake. Calves that consumed either form of solid feed had a higher incidence of abomasal ulcers and erosion, but the effects were more prominent in the calves fed straw. Therefore, the two forms of roughage were able to satisfy the calves’ behavioural needs, but it still damaged the digestive tract. Therefore, more research is needed to discover a roughage source that improves the welfare of the animal without harming the digestive tract.