Answer:
Referencing the book The Omnivore's Dilemma: In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, cow's raised on CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) are typically slaughtered between 14 and 16 months because they're fed a soy protein/corn mix diet that fattens them rapidly. Cow's raised on smaller farms can have a life of anywhere from 2-5 years.