How long do cows live?

from <3 years to at least 4.5 year (productive); natural lifespan ~20 years

typically 5.5 years (average total lifespan of dairy cows in the Netherlands in 2018)

Dairy cows in industrialized countries have a productive lifespan that varies from <3 years to at least 4.5 years, while their natural lifespan is ~20 years.

• The average age of culled cows was rather constant over the evaluated period (variation between 5.79 and 5.90 years).
• The natural lifespan of dairy cattle is ~20 years.