Outcome-based welfare indicators provide objective measures for assessing and comparing dairy cow welfare across farming systems.
Outcome-based welfare assessment in dairy farming provides objective, comparable data on herd welfare that can drive improvement over time. Indicators such as lameness prevalence, body condition score, and hock lesion rates are validated measures that reflect management quality and animal experience. Regular assessment against benchmarked targets enables farms to identify problems, monitor progress, and demonstrate welfare to consumers.