Dairy and beef cows reaching the end of their productive lives face significant welfare risks at cull, requiring careful management and high welfare standards.
Cull cows at end of productive life represent a significant welfare concern because these animals are often in compromised health states when decisions about their fate are made. Lame or emaciated cows transported to market or slaughter may be unfit for the journey, suffering additional welfare harm during what should be their final hours. Welfare-conscious end-of-production management requires honest assessment of fitness for transport, provision of appropriate analgesia during any transport, and willingness to pursue on-farm euthanasia when transport would cause unacceptable suffering. Improving cull cow welfare requires both individual farm decision-making and system-level standards.