Ensuring the Health and Marketability of Dairy Cattle
Research-based strategies to improve dairy cattle health, welfare, and marketability through proactive herd management and animal care standards.
Market Cows
Deciding when a dairy cow starts her second career
Body condition is an important consideration when deciding when a dairy animal retires into her “second career”. Thin cows with poor condition are often discounted at sale barns, so evaluating which cows may be candidates for improving condition is an important consideration prior to shipping a cull cow to get the most value. It is also important to note that adding condition may be necessary for animal well-being prior to transport.