Modern dairy cows are typically culled at 3-4 years old due to production decline, far below their natural lifespan of 20 years.
Early culling reflects and causes welfare problems — cows are culled because of painful conditions like lameness and mastitis. Systems that emphasize longevity require better health management, reducing the chronic suffering associated with high-production diseases. More robust, longer-lived cows represent both a welfare and sustainability goal.