Most dairy cows are culled by age 4-5 despite natural lifespans of 20 years. Improving longevity improves both welfare and farm economics through reduced replacement costs.
Dairy cow longevity is a welfare issue where economic and ethical interests align unusually well. Cows that are culled young for health problems have experienced welfare failures during their productive lives. Improving longevity requires addressing the health conditions that cause early culling: mastitis, lameness, and metabolic disease. These are also welfare priorities in their own right. Farms that achieve longer productive lives through health-focused management demonstrate that the welfare-positive approach is economically viable. Genetic selection tools now available allow farmers to select for health and longevity alongside milk production, removing much of the historical trade-off between productivity and welfare.