So, one of the common arguments made by vegans (and generally people who oppose factory farming) is that the average lifespan of farmed animals has decreased, and that that's a proof that lives of animals are getting worse rather than better. For instance, that cows used to live for decades, and now they only live for years. And that chickens used to live for years, but now they only live for months. Is there any truth to that?

I doubt it, because, well, a cow that lives a shorter life will give us less milk and a chicken that lives a shorter life gives us fewer eggs. There is incentive to make animals live longer, rather than shorter. Furthermore, chickens start laying eggs only when they are a few months old, so if they live less than a few months, they won't give us eggs whatsoever.

I was wondering what you thought about that.

So, one of the common arguments made by vegans (and generally people who oppose factory farming) is that the average lifespan of farmed animals has decreased, and that that's a proof that lives of animals are getting worse rather than better. For instance, that cows used to live for decades, and now they only live for years. And that chickens used to live for years, but now they only live for months. Is there any truth to that?

I doubt it, because, well, a cow that lives a shorter life will give us less milk and a chicken that lives a shorter life gives us fewer eggs. There is incentive to make animals live longer, rather than shorter. Furthermore, chickens start laying eggs only when they are a few months old, so if they live less than a few months, they won't give us eggs whatsoever.