Reviewing five years of UK cattle welfare progress reveals improvements in lameness management, antibiotic reduction, and welfare assurance, alongside persistent challenges in transition disease and heat stress.
Five years of concerted industry, government, and veterinary effort has produced measurable welfare improvements in UK cattle farming. Lameness and antibiotic use improvements are genuine achievements. Climate adaptation to increasing heat stress events represents a new challenge requiring urgent attention. Consumer demand for welfare improvement remains an important driver.