High-yielding dairy cows face significant health challenges from intensive production systems. Understanding the links between production pressure and welfare helps identify solutions.
The dairy industry has steadily increased per-cow milk production through selective breeding, nutrition, and management, but this intensification has come with welfare costs. High-yielding cows experience metabolic stress during peak lactation, are prone to lameness from hard concrete flooring, and frequently develop mastitis from high milk production pressure on the udder. Welfare outcomes are significantly better in grazing systems than in year-round housed systems, and breeding programs that consider health traits alongside yield show improved welfare outcomes. Consumers, retailers, and regulators all have leverage to drive better standards.