What Is a Cull Animal?

When people hear the term “cull animal,” they often assume it refers only to animals removed from a herd because of disease. In reality, culling is a common livestock management practice used for several reasons.

A cull animal is simply one that is removed from a herd or flock because it no longer meets the needs of the farm operation.

In many cases, animals are culled because of age. For example, breeding animals may reach a point where they are no longer productive. Older animals are also more likely to develop health issues such as lameness, infertility, mastitis, arthritis, or other injuries.

Production levels can also play a role. In dairy or poultry operations, animals may be culled when they stop producing enough milk or eggs to remain economically viable.

Once removed from the herd, these animals are often sold through livestock auctions and eventually processed for meat products. For example, dairy cows or breeding sows may be used to produce ground meat, sausages, bacon, and other foods. Their hides may also be used for leather, and bones can be processed into bone meal used in certain animal feeds.

In the case of laying hens, some are processed for meat, while others may be adopted by families who keep backyard chickens. Even if the hens no longer produce eggs at commercial levels, they can still supply enough eggs for a household.

Understanding the role of cull animals helps explain how farms manage livestock throughout an animal’s life cycle and how many parts of the animal are used after it leaves the herd.