Modern dairy production extracts extraordinary milk yields from cows but frequently at significant welfare cost. Lameness, mastitis, and short productive lives are the most prevalent welfare challenges in the industry.
High-yield dairy production concentrates welfare harms in the metabolic stress of peak lactation, the chronic pain of lameness and mastitis, and the brevity of productive life. Cows culled after 3-4 lactations rarely reach the age at which health problems would naturally emerge — but this is not welfare success; it is turnover masking chronic welfare failure. The best welfare indicators in dairy — low lameness prevalence, low mastitis incidence, good body condition — all require investment that competes with yield maximisation.