There is a huge difference in strength between young Holstein ("milk" breed) and young Angus ("beef" breed) calves. Breeders have overselected so much for milk production that they have created a weak, fragile animal. Also, some producers are feeing Holsteins too much grain instead of roughage to force them to grow faster than they should. They don't give the Holsteins heifers enough time to grow a solid skeleton and hard hooves that would make them less susceptible to lameness. It takes two years for a heifer to grow up and on some dairy farms she lasts for only two years of milking, then she has to be slaughtered because she is too sick or lame. Normally cattle ought to be able to live well into their late teenage years.
Grandin, Temple and Catherine Johnson. Animals make us Human. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Boston 2009: p. 164.
Eyes on Animals -
