The age at which farm animals are slaughtered affects both the duration of any welfare problems they experience and the ability to develop positive welfare states before death.
Slaughter age interacts with welfare in complex ways. Early slaughter of fast-growing broilers limits the period during which their compromised bodies cause welfare problems but also limits the opportunity for any positive welfare experiences. Longer-lived animals including dairy cows have the potential for both longer positive welfare and longer suffering depending on management quality. Welfare assessment throughout life rather than only at death enables more complete welfare evaluation.