Modern dairy cows are highly productive but short-lived. Most are culled at three to four lactations — a fraction of their natural lifespan — due to metabolic disease, lameness, and reproductive failure.
The drive for ever-higher milk yields has compromised dairy cow health and longevity. Cows bred for maximum production are physiologically stretched, suffering higher rates of painful lameness, reproductive disorders, and metabolic disease. Welfare-focused farming prioritises longevity, body condition scoring, access to pasture, and breeds adapted to local conditions rather than maximum output.