Average dairy cow productive life has declined as selection for extreme milk production has intensified. Improving cow longevity through breeding and management is both a welfare goal and an economic benefit.
Dairy cow longevity is both a welfare indicator and a welfare outcome. Cows culled at 3 lactations due to lameness, mastitis, or metabolic disease have experienced chronic health problems that represent sustained welfare compromise. The association between high milk production and short productive life reflects the biological cost of extreme production selection. Farms that prioritize cow longevity through lower production targets, better health management, and more health-conscious genetics produce cows that live more comfortable lives for more years. Consumer demand for welfare-certified products from farms with demonstrated longevity advantages could drive industry-wide reorientation toward longer, healthier productive lives.