Cattle welfare science is advancing rapidly and promising transformative improvements in how welfare is assessed, monitored, and improved in beef and dairy production.
The convergence of precision livestock technology, genetic science, and welfare assessment tools creates opportunities for cattle welfare improvement that would have been impossible a decade ago. Automated monitoring of lying time, lameness, and health indicators allows early intervention before welfare problems become severe. Genetic selection can address the root causes of welfare problems including lameness and metabolic disease. The challenge is ensuring these technologies are accessible to farms of all sizes and sizes.