Modern dairy cows are often culled after 2-3 lactations despite being capable of producing milk for much longer. Improving longevity through better welfare management benefits both cows and farm sustainability.
Short dairy cow longevity is both a welfare indicator and a welfare cause. Cows culled at 3-4 years have typically experienced multiple health crises - lameness, mastitis, metabolic disease - that caused suffering and eventually led to their removal. These conditions are not inevitable; they reflect management and genetic choices. From a welfare perspective, high culling rates mean large numbers of cows experiencing repeated illness before their productive years are exhausted. Investing in cow longevity through better housing, preventive health management, and selection for durability over peak production creates herds of older, healthier, more resilient animals. Older cows in good condition have also adapted to their environment and show more settled, confident behavior than younger replacements entering a new social group.