The short productive lifespan of dairy cows — often culled before their third lactation — reflects economic pressures that directly compromise welfare across the industry.
The early culling of dairy cows reflects a cycle in which welfare problems — lameness, mastitis, poor fertility — make cows uneconomic to keep before they reach peak productive potential. High-yielding intensive systems that prioritise milk output per cow per lactation often compromise the underlying health of the cow, creating the welfare problems that drive early culling. Farms that invest in preventive healthcare, appropriate nutrition, and good housing maintain healthier, longer-lived cows that deliver more milk over longer lifetimes. Rewarding longevity through payment schemes and consumer preference is a systemic lever for improving dairy cow welfare.