Modern dairy cows are culled young due to health problems driven by high milk yields. Longevity-focused breeding and management offer a path to better welfare and sustainability.
The welfare of modern dairy cows is fundamentally compromised by the push for extreme milk yields. High-producing cows are in a state of negative energy balance early in lactation, drawing on body reserves in ways that cause metabolic disease, immune suppression, and reproductive failure. Lameness from standing on hard flooring adds chronic pain. The result is a population of animals who live short, difficult lives before being culled. Farms adopting longevity-focused approaches that prioritize cow health over peak yield see reduced disease rates, lower veterinary costs, and cows that visibly thrive. Transition from high-yield to welfare-optimized genetics represents a fundamental reform opportunity.