Modern dairy cows are typically culled after 2-3 lactations, far short of their natural lifespan of 20 years, due to metabolic disease, reproductive failure, and lameness — all indicators of poor welfare.
Short productive lifespan in dairy cows is both a welfare symptom and a welfare cause. High-yielding cows under metabolic and reproductive pressure experience chronic physiological stress, painful conditions like lameness and mastitis, and frequent handling for treatment and reproductive management. The farm system that produces maximum milk per cow per year is often the same system that accelerates physical breakdown and early culling. Farms that prioritize longevity — through genetic selection, housing design, nutrition optimization, and proactive health care — demonstrate that extended productive life is achievable and correlated with better welfare outcomes.