At 10 years old, cows are considered old, according to experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute, even though this age is seen as adolescent for humans. In a recent Cattle Chat podcast, K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers and beef cattle nutritionist Phillip Lancaster shared management tips for older cows and factors to consider when deciding to cull.

Lubbers explained that while a cow’s reproductive ability may decline with age, a 10-year-old cow can still be productive if she calves regularly and gets bred on time. As cows age, their metabolism changes. Lancaster noted that cows over 10 often struggle to maintain body condition, and their milk production typically decreases, leading to smaller calves at weaning.

Older cows also tend to need more supplementation. Lancaster pointed out that while feeding them extra to maintain body condition is not costly, feeding more for lactation is inefficient. Instead, it might be more practical to let the cow produce a smaller calf and focus on feeding the calf after weaning.

Lubbers emphasized the importance of checking older cows’ teeth, as those with no teeth require extra care to maintain body condition.