How old is a cow killed to produce meat?

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.
Contributor: Kodiakcathy
First answer by Kodiakcathy. Last edit by Cmb1791. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 1 [recommend question].