Length of Productive Life in Dairy Cattle: Key Factors

This study examines factors influencing the length of productive life (LPL) in dairy cattle, defined as the period from first calving to culling. Using survival analysis, it identifies key influences across production, reproduction, morphology, and health traits. Low milk yield significantly increases culling risk, even with favorable other traits. In Swiss systems, selection for alpine pasturing reduces culling. Holstein Friesian cows show the highest culling risk. Major risk factors include low milk production, multiple mastitis cases, high somatic cell counts, displaced abomasum, clinical ketosis, high body condition score, poor udder conformation, and reproductive challenges like delayed calving or repeated inseminations. LPL is proposed as a measure of long-term resilience under environmental stress. Published in the Journal of Dairy Science, supported by EU Horizon 2020 Grant 727213.