Older cow questions

[6e]

How long can a cow keep being bred and milked? Is an 8 year old cow considered an old cow? How many more breedings can you expect out of a cow that age and what kind of problems might be anticipated?

[francismilker]

I don't feel like a cow's productivity and life expectancy depend solely on it's age. Depending on it's beginning stages there can be a lot of variables. If it was formerly a milk cow on a very demanding dairy, 8 is very old. If it was a family milk cow and has been hand fed grain and high quality hay without too many stems, 8 is not old. If a cow is fed good quality roughage it's teeth should still be intact at 8. If it was fed less than desireable pastures there's a good chance that's it would be considered "short and solid" or "smooth mouthed" at a beef sale.
Now, back to your question. I know some folks that are still milking cows that are upwards of fifteen. As long as they are able to stay in good body condition while producing, the sky's the limit.

[agmantoo]

I have beef cattle that are still producing in their teens with no problems. Good minerals and decent forage plus decent living conditions contribute to longevity. Avoiding feet problems is a must. Keeping the animal healthy and in good body condition and not letting it get run down is a way the owner can contribute. It is far easier to keep an animal healthy than to try to nurse it back to health.

[6e]

Well, if we're looking at buying an older milk cow, what sort of things would we look for?

[gone-a-milkin]

Often times older cows become more prone to foot problems (lameness) as agmantoo has said. A cow that is lame does *not* make very much milk...

Also, like the rest of us, when cows age they tend not to 'bounce back' from injuries and sicknesses as quickly. If they fall down or get mastitis, it can be a slow-go to get through it.

That said, I have personally known and milked several cows who were well into their teens. They did okay, but were certainly considered 'Senior citizens' by the time they were 12 or 13. They moved more slowly and carefully but still held up their production. Gravity takes its toll on a body too...as I have noticed myself, lately...LOL.

However, as others have said, each cows 'aging' will be different. Quality of care and genetics both play a part in how we age.

[JKB07]

Hooves, teeth, body condition, udder attatchment, and health history. If all this looks good, she is as good as a fist calf heifer....

Justin

[Cotton Picker]

There are accounts of cows reaching twenty or more years, however, I would say that this would be the exception, rather than the rule.

As has already been pointed out, there are several factors to be considered.

Would you be looking to buy from an auction or an individual? Would you be purchasing a cow that was already a family cow, or would you be recycling a production cow?

On large dairies an eight year old cow would be considered old, if she even lasted that long. Sadly, too often in production environments cows are literally a number and purely a source of pounds of milk, profit-loss etc. Too often the overall well being of the cow is overlooked due to the economics of mass production. The term getting lost in the herd, literally applies here.

I would not recommend buying a cow from a large dairy.

As with all living creatures, old is relative to the individual. If a cow has had exceptional care and handling, eight years would probably not be considered especially old.

Care should be taken in assessing the overall condition of the cow. If she walks without difficulty, with her head up, chances are her feet don't hurt. Is she in good flesh for the stage of lactation? Are her eyes bright or dull? Is she listless or alert? Is she bred back? If she's six months into her lactation and still open, I would be concerned about her reproductive efficiency. Is her udder well attached? Keep in mind that if she is in late lactation her udder may appear fine, however when she comes fresh it just might resemble a basketball. Do you have access to health records? How many times has she had mastitis? Is her milk currently clean?

I don't know what breed you are looking for, but keep in mind that a slaughter cow will bring between 40 to 50 cents per pound, depending upon condition.

Let's face it. At auction you're buying a pig in a poke. The added downside of disease exposure at the sale barn is another inherent risk.

It comes down to how soon do you want to be milking? I would recommend getting a second or third lactation cow off of a farm. If you feel that you are up to the challenge of barn breaking a heifer, than get a springer. You will pay more for a springing heifer than an aged cow and there are risks involved in either. I would say that the long term risks of a heifer are better than those involved in an aged cow. A younger animal that is well cared for will generally offer you many years of good service.