Dairy cows in commercial systems are typically culled after 2–3 lactations when their natural lifespan is 20 years — longevity is a key welfare and sustainability indicator that many producers are beginning to prioritise.
The short lifespan of commercial dairy cows is simultaneously a welfare, environmental, and economic problem. Cows that develop lameness, mastitis, or reproductive failure are culled rather than treated when the economics of treatment do not support it — a calculus that prioritises production efficiency over the welfare of an individual sentient animal. Yet the evidence consistently shows that herds managed for longevity — through better housing, low-stress handling, proactive veterinary care, and balanced genetic selection — are both more profitable and more welfare-positive. Longevity is an integrative measure of herd welfare: cows that stay healthy, comfortable, and reproductively successful live longer. Supporting dairy producers who measure and improve longevity supports a meaningful welfare outcome.