Ovarian cysts and reproductive disorders are common welfare and production problems in high-yielding dairy cows, reflecting the demands of intensive milk production on the reproductive system.
Reproductive disorders in high-yielding dairy cows reflect the physiological costs of intensive milk production. Negative energy balance diverts metabolic resources from reproduction, causing delayed return to cyclicity, cystic ovaries, and embryo loss. While individual reproductive disorders may not cause obvious suffering, they indicate systemic physiological stress from high production demands. The pattern of poor reproductive performance in high-yielding cows — affecting a significant proportion of the herd annually — represents a welfare indicator of the systemic stress of intensive dairy production. Cows that are repeatedly treated for reproductive failure and ultimately culled for poor fertility experience fragmented, stressful lives.