Commentary
For animal health pros who work with dairy producers or monitor elements of dairy production, this article from Stephen LeBlanc, BSc(Agr), DVM, DVSc, may challenge some of the corporate thinking being applied to the dairies you serve. His discussion of where a cow fits in dairy management decisions and how various scenarios influence culling provides perspectives worth sharing and discussing with dairy clients.
Here are some notable statements from the article:
“How long can a cow live?” is not useful to inform a decision of how long a cow should remain on a dairy.
The best time to replace any animal – young or old – is when their future contribution to profit is less than an available replacement. That time will vary as a function of production, health and fertility, and the prices of milk, market cows and replacements.
The supply of replacements drives culling rate and average longevity.
Source: Progressive Dairy, August 5, 2025. Link. We owe our cows good quality of life for as long as they contribute to a high-performance team for feeding people. The goal is to optimize longevity and lactation length, not to uncritically aim for herds of older cows.
There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ recommendation . . . excellent management creates the opportunity to apply selection pressure to fill the herd with healthy, high-performing animals, some of which will remain for many lactations.”
Related: Dairy heifer shortage builds the case for older cows, Dairy Herd Management, July 29, 2025. Link. Wisconsin veterinarian Ryan Leiterman advises dairies to embrace their older cows.