Selecting dairy cattle for longevity rather than maximum milk yield produces cows with better health, lower disease burden, and improved welfare outcomes.
The relentless genetic push for maximum milk production has compromised the health and longevity of modern dairy cattle. Cows bred for production extremes suffer higher rates of metabolic disease, reproductive failure, and painful conditions including laminitis and mastitis. Longevity-focused breeding programs recognize that a cow living to 7-10 years in good health is both more economically and ethically sustainable than cycles of high-producing, short-lived animals. Nordic countries have led this approach, with genetic selection indices incorporating health traits alongside production measures, resulting in herds with lower disease rates and longer productive lives.