Article Summary: The issue of what to do with retired dairy cows poses a significant challenge for farmers. When cows reach the end of their productive years, farmers face ethical and practical considerations. While some farmers opt to sell retired cows for beef, others seek alternative solutions, such as sanctuaries or retirement farms, aiming to provide a more humane and peaceful end-of-life care. This dilemma involves balancing economic viability with ethical treatment, prompting discussions on sustainable practices and the welfare of aging dairy cows within the agricultural industry.
The issue of what to do with retired dairy cows poses a significant challenge for farmers. When cows reach the end of their productive years, farmers face ethical and practical considerations. While some farmers opt to sell retired cows for beef, others seek alternative solutions, such as sanctuaries or retirement farms, aiming to provide more humane and peaceful end-of-life care. This dilemma involves balancing economic viability with ethical treatment, prompting discussions on sustainable practices and the welfare of aging dairy cows within the agricultural industry.
The life of a dairy cow commonly revolves around 5 to 7 years of active milking. These are the years when these cows actively participate in the growth and production of your farming business. Estimates suggest a heifer costs over AU$1500 to a farm owner by the time they calve. And as she has more calves, these costs increase.
Your cow will retire as soon as she hits 7 or 8 years of age. On the contrary, some cows withdraw before time due to health reasons or a decline in milk production.
Statistics of cow milk and how much a cow produces in her life
An average Holstein cow will give around 23,000 pounds of milk during her lactation cycle. It can also give birth at the age of 23 months. According to the research of the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the U.N., 150 million households around the world milk animals so that we can drink their milk. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are mega-farms in places like the United States, where over 96% of milk is produced.
Are retired cows typically sold for slaughter?
Dairy cows, when they stop milking after a certain age, are typically sold to restaurants, beef markets, and meat production houses. They are usually turned into patties or hamburger meat. According to research, around 20% of beef consumed in America is derived from slaughtered dairy cows.
What other options are there for retired dairy cows other than beef production?
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Sale for Beef Production: Many farmers opt to sell retired dairy cows for beef. This allows for economic returns while utilizing the cow for meat production.
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Animal Sanctuaries or Retirement Farms: Some farmers may choose to send retired dairy cows to animal sanctuaries or specialised retirement farms. These places offer a more peaceful and humane end-of-life care for the cows, allowing them to live out their remaining years comfortably.
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On-Farm Care: In certain cases, you may provide end-of-life care for retired cows on your own farms, especially if space and resources allow for it.
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Donation or Adoption: Some farmers explore options to donate retired cows to educational institutions or adoptive homes where the cows can serve non-commercial purposes or be cared for as pets.
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Rendering: Another option involves sending retired cows to rendering facilities, where their remains are processed for various products like animal feed, biofuels, and other industrial uses.
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Utilisation of By-products: Certain parts of retired cows, like hides and bones, can be utilised for various purposes such as leather goods, gelatin, or other industrial applications.
Each of these options comes with its own set of considerations, including ethical, financial, and practical factors that you need to weigh when determining the best course of action for retired dairy cows on your farm.
Process of sale
If you decide to offload your retired stock, you’ll need to consider the selling process.
When you take your cow for auction, your ownership shifts from the farmer to a packer-buyer right away. Before buying, the buyer examines the cow thoroughly and figures out its potential risks and benefits.
The buyer also checks the cow's age, health, body makeup, and visual appearance and then decides its worth. The amount of money paid for cows depends on the meat business.
It’s important to note that the market price of retired dairy cows is considerably lower than milking cows. You also have no control over the offered sale prices.
Meat quality of retired dairy cows
Some people believe that using retired dairy cows for meat is a more ethical way to use these animals.
It’s widely known, or believed, that the longer your cow lives and produces milk, the better the taste of their meat. And, when it is fed lush pasture and other nutrient-filled food, it can add further add more flavour to the meat.
If you decide to slaughter your retired cows, it’s recommended to take 20-30 days and focus on their health and diet. Make sure that they are well-fed, happy in their environment and free from any disease.
What other options for retired dairy cows do farmers have?
If the thought of sending your animals to slaughter isn’t something you can stomach, there are some other things you could consider. The most humane option would be to send them to a retirement farm, to hobby farmers or let them see out their days happily on your land. But we understand this isn't always possible.
On the other hand, and in one wild recent news story, you could train your cows for cuddles. This therapy was introduced by Fiona Wilson, James McCune, and Will of Dumble Farm in East Yorkshire. These cows were trained over five months and offer a 3-hour soothing cuddle session, farm tour, and calf brushing. Visitors from all over the country, including Hawaii, describe it as therapeutic, calming, and overall, lovely. Additionally, it’s reported the cows enjoy the attention and appear to be thriving from this new lease on life!
Yes, it’s a wild concept, but it could actually be an option for you.
So, what to do now?
Here’s a table to show you the pros and cons of your options:
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PROS |
CONS |
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Selling Retired Dairy Cows: |
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It generates stable and immediate income. |
It does not make use of the byproducts of cows. |
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Beef Production from Retired Dairy Cows: |
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Increases the variety of farm activities. |
More space may be required for grazing and raising beef cattle. |
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On-Farm Uses and Grazing: |
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Creates a rural atmosphere, increasing the potential for agritourism. |
Effective pasture management is required. |
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By-Products (Fertilizer, Compost): |
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Improves soil fertility for future farming operations. |
There is a limited direct financial return. |
Each choice has its own set of trade-offs
It's all about finding the best fit for your farm's objectives and your own set of values.
In addressing the challenge of managing retired dairy cows, you navigate a spectrum of choices. Each option, from beef sales to sanctuaries or on-farm care, involves a delicate balance between economic viability and ethical considerations. Ultimately, the decision reflects your commitment to responsible and humane practices in caring for your retired dairy cows.
We hope this helps you with your decision.
Until we meet again, Happy Farming!
- The Dedicated Team of Pasture.io, 2023-12-14