The average dairy cow in intensive production systems is culled at 5-6 years — a fraction of her potential 20-year lifespan — due to reproductive failure, lameness, mastitis, and declining milk yield, raising significant welfare and sustainability concerns.
The short productive lives of modern dairy cows reflect a system optimised for yield over durability. Cows bred for maximum milk production experience chronic metabolic stress in early lactation, accelerated reproductive tract cycling, and high rates of lameness and mastitis — all of which shorten their working lives. When culled, cows are typically transported to slaughter at a point when they are already in poor condition, adding a final welfare insult. Extending dairy cow longevity through health-focused breeding indices, better transition cow management, and lameness prevention would simultaneously improve welfare throughout each cow's life and reduce the number of replacement animals needed. Consumer demand for extended-lifespan dairy products is growing and provides a market incentive for this approach.