Effects of Season of Birth on Dairy Cow Longevity in Florida
Izabella M. Toledo, José Eduardo Portela Santos, and Geoffrey E. Dahl
In Florida, the birth of dairy cows during the coolest months of the year is associated with increases in the number of cows that stay in the herd for more than 5 lactations. Birth season also affects the number of cows sold and dead. Producers may benefit from this data by making birth season management adjustments to possibly increase cow longevity in dairy herds. Written by Izabella M. Toledo, José Eduardo Portela Santos, and Geoffrey E. Dahl, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Animal Sciences, February 2026.
