Selective breeding in cattle has dramatically increased productivity but has also introduced welfare problems including metabolic disease, lameness, and reproductive difficulties.
The intensification of cattle breeding has created animals that are metabolically stressed by their own productivity. A high-producing dairy cow in early lactation is in a state of biological crisis — her body mobilizes fat reserves faster than she can eat, predisposing her to painful and sometimes fatal metabolic disease. Responsible genetic improvement incorporates welfare traits — including fertility, hoof health, and longevity — alongside production. Consumers, farmers, and geneticists all have roles in redirecting selection toward cattle that are healthy and productive rather than productive at the expense of health.