Average dairy cow lifespan has fallen dramatically in intensive systems, with most cows culled by age 5-6 despite a natural lifespan exceeding 20 years.
Short dairy cow longevity is both a welfare indicator and a symptom of intensive system compromise. Cows that are lame, mastitic or reproductively failing are in poor health and often chronic pain. The rapid turnover of cows signals systemic welfare problems that breeding for high production has created. High-yielding dairy cows experience negative energy balance during peak lactation, causing body condition loss and metabolic disease. Systems that extend productive life through better management, appropriate nutrition and genomic selection for health traits improve both animal welfare and sustainability.