How extending productive lifespan in dairy cows improves both individual welfare and farm sustainability, and what practices enable longer, healthier lives.
The premature culling of dairy cows represents both a welfare failure and an economic inefficiency. Cows killed after 2-3 lactations have spent most of their lives in intensive production before being slaughtered, often due to preventable conditions. Extending longevity requires addressing the root causes of premature exit: lameness, mastitis, reproductive failure, and metabolic disease. These conditions are not inevitable — they are largely management-dependent. High welfare farms consistently achieve longer productive lifespans, demonstrating that welfare and productivity are aligned rather than opposed.