Factors Influencing Dairy Cattle Longevity

Abstract

Analysis of disposal records on 505 Holstein-Friesian and 489 Jersey cattle in the USDA herds at Beltsville, Maryland, showed that 41.3% of the Holsteins and 21.3% of the Jerseys were removed from the herd as nonbreeders. Udder troubles constituted the second largest group of reasons for disposal, the percentages being 10.5 and 9.6 for the two breeds, respectively. No cattle were culled for low production or poor type in these herds during the 40-yr. period covered by the data.