Pembrokeshire farm turns the corner on lameness
Wednesday, 15 January 2025
Maintaining your herd’s mobility isn't just about animal welfare. It directly impacts profitability and farm reputation. Hackett Farm in Pembrokeshire is a shining example of success, where dairy farmer Tom Jones has transformed his cows' mobility.
Tom farms with his grandparents, father and uncle across 500 acres with 240 cows and 230 youngstock. The herd of pedigree Holsteins calves from late summer into autumn, yielding 8,300 L at 4.65% fat and 3.37% protein.
Tom knows mobility is crucial for animal health and farm profitability:
"Lameness affects everything, from getting cows back in calf to milk production," he explains.
"Our milk yield suffers when cows are lame, as they show signs of heat less and don't get in calf as easily."
Vet Sara Pedersen played a key role in this transformation:
"Lameness impacts productivity, reduces profitability and affects the dairy industry's reputation," she says.
“Most costs come from the impact of lameness on culling. For instance, a cow with a sole ulcer has a 50% increased risk of leaving the herd. There's also an impact on fertility and milk yield.”
Tom and Sara began working together in May 2022 and followed our Healthy Feet Programme. They focused on identifying and addressing specific causes of lameness, like digital dermatitis and sole ulcers.
“We increased foot bathing frequency and used a lower concentration of formalin,” she says.
“We also introduced an early lactation inspection at 70 to 80 days to catch issues before they escalated.”
The farm action plan included regular foot bathing and more frequent hoof trimming. They shifted from six-week to three-week intervals, slashing treatment costs.
By trimming cows’ hooves preventatively, before issues develop, Tom only incurs a trimming cost of £10 per cow, as opposed to £10 per block or the higher costs associated with a course of antibiotics and pain relief.
Overall, he has gone from spending £6,500 a year trimming to £6,200 while increasing the frequency from every six weeks to three weeks.
Tom also improved his track surfaces and concreted some high-traffic areas, ensuring smoother movement for the herd. These changes are part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance cow mobility and overall herd health.
By implementing robust routines and inspections, they effectively targeted and reduced occurrences of digital dermatitis and sole ulcers.
Tom credits the programme for substantial improvements. Initially, his herd's lameness incidence was around 30%, most of which were older cows, but now it is down to around 9%.
Looking ahead, he aims to reduce lameness levels further so cows show stronger heats. This will allow them to get in calf sooner and maintain a good calving block.
"It is important to remember that not all aspects are appropriate on every farm," says Sara. "Tailoring strategies to each farm's unique needs ensures interventions are effective and relevant, addressing specific challenges faced by individual herds."
Find out more about the Healthy Feet Programme and improving your herds mobility by booking your place at one of our GB-wide Confident Strides meetings.