Routine welfare monitoring in dairy herds provides early warning of developing problems. Implementing systematic assessment improves welfare outcomes across entire herds.
Systematic welfare monitoring in dairy herds provides farmers with objective data about the welfare status of their animals. Without regular assessment, problems can become endemic — normalized rather than recognized as welfare failures. The evidence base for welfare monitoring showing that herds with regular assessment have lower lameness and better welfare outcomes is strong. Implementation requires investment in time and training but pays dividends in both welfare and productivity outcomes.