DairyTalk 301: Profit per Cow per Year: Rethinking Voluntary Culling Strategies - by Helmut Demmelhuber

DairyTalk by Helmut Demmelhuber · Feb 25, 2026 · 19m

This episode builds on a professional analysis of replacement decisions under record-high heifer prices. It examines the economic risk of retaining low-performing cows simply to avoid expensive purchases of young stock. The focus shifts from lifetime production to annual profitability, incorporating indicators such as somatic cell count, reproductive status and genetic merit. The article argues that marginal cows can generate losses exceeding the cost of replacement when evaluated over time. Precision management and genomic testing emerge as key tools to ensure that every stall is occupied by…