Average dairy cow longevity is a reliable welfare indicator — cows culled early are almost always experiencing welfare problems, making extending productive lifespan a welfare and sustainability goal.
Dairy cow longevity is both a welfare indicator and a welfare goal. A herd where cows average 2-3 lactations before culling is a herd where the production system is overwhelming the welfare of a significant proportion of animals — the early-culled cows are almost always animals whose health has been compromised by lameness, mastitis, or metabolic disease driven by the intensity of production. Selecting for longevity traits through genomic breeding, managing cows to reduce first-lactation metabolic stress, and treating health problems promptly to preserve rather than replace affected cows all move dairy farming toward a model where cows live longer, healthier, more welfare-positive lives. Consumer demand for dairy products from longer-lived herds creates economic incentives for this transition.