In commercial conditions, fear of people can lead to decreased welfare and productivity of animals. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of positive contacts on the welfare and productivity of calves and the quality of veal meat. 22 calves housed in individual crates were used in the experiment. Half of the calves received minimal contact from the stockperson, and the other half were stroked and allowed to suck the stockperson’s fingers after each meal during the entire fattening period of 21 weeks. Welfare of the animals was assessed thorough behavioural reactivity (reactions to handling, to surprise stimuli, and to novelty), neuroendocrine responses to stress (cortisol in response to an ACTH challenge, catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes), and health (number of medical treatments, abomasal lesions). The productivity of the calves was assessed through growth rates and meat quality. Calves that received gentle contacts were less agitated and tended to defecate less when handled in a cart on wheels than the control calves. There was no treatment effect on responses to ACTH, and catecholamine synthetic potential. Calves given gentle contacts had fewer abomasal lesions than controls. No treatment effect was found on meat pH, meat colour, or growth rates. But the calves that received gentle contacts had higher glycolytic potential (an estimation of resting glycogen level in muscle) of the semimembranosus muscle. In conclusion this study suggests that, although the neuroendocrine responses to stress and number of medical treatments were not improved, gentling veal calves around meals can improve some of their welfare by decreasing reactions to handling and by reducing the occurrence of abomasal lesions.