A team approach to delivering a lameness control programme on farm

Introduction 
Early detection and appropriate treatment of lameness are important factors in lameness management (Groenevelt et al., 2014; Thomas et al., 2015, 2016), and lameness greatly predisposes further lameness (Randall et al., 2015, 2018; Newsome et al., 2016). Despite this knowledge, the practical application of “early detection and treatment” is challenging. 

Lameness prevalence – both in the UK and globally – remains stubbornly high, with farmers identifying the key barriers to lameness control as (1) lack of time, (2) lack of skilled labour and training and (3) lack of appropriate trimming facilities (Manning et al., 2016; Pedersen et al., 2018). 

Our aim was to deliver a commercial service that reduced lameness on farm through early detection and treatment of lame cows. Objectives included (1) perform all routine trims (two per cow per lactation) and all lameness detection and treatment, (2) attend newly lame cows within 48 hours, (3) charge for the programme based on the number of cows in the herd and (4) use technological aids to deliver an efficient service. 

Materials and Methods
The farm The farm milked 250 Holstein Friesian cows twice daily through an 18x36 swingover parlour, calving year-round. Cows were housed in cubicle sheds with rubber mattresses, straw bedding and concrete flooring. The collecting yard was rubber matted and low yielders had access to grazing for at least 100 days per year. Both an independent foot trimmer and one of our Vet Techs (foot trimmers) attended the farm approximately monthly until the beginning of this programme. Digital dermatitis was reasonably well controlled through footbathing twice weekly with formalin 2%. An on-farm foot trimming crush was used for lameness treatments. […]