New Animal Health Ireland hoof health programme launched
Michelle McGrath, Hoof HealthCheck programme manager, Animal Health Ireland; vet Willie Buckley, Riverview Vets, Bandon, Co Cork; dairy farmer Nigel Bryan, Fountainstown, Co Cork; and Dr Muireann Connealy, dairy welfare senior research officer, Teagasc.
The national lameness prevalence of 10% in dairy herds equates to a national loss of €145m annually.
Aiming to curb the annual €145m costs, Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has launched its new Hoof HealthCheck Programme for the dairy sector.
Lameness in cattle can cost farmers €8,750 a year per 100 cows in high-prevalence herds. Also, as a welfare issue for cattle, causing pain, reducing fertility and lowering milk production, AHI’s new initiative was launched to tackle the issue among dairy herds.
A recent Teagasc study found 10% of dairy cows on the surveyed farms were lame. The worst performing 20% of dairy farms in the study had a lameness prevalence of between 15% and 32%.
It is one of the most economically costly diseases affecting Irish dairy herds, with recent estimates placing the cost per case of lameness as high as €536.
Commenting on the launch of the programme, AHI programme manager Dr Michelle McGrath, said: “Lameness has been seen as an operational hazard or as inevitable on many Irish dairy farms, which is simply not the case. Lameness is a serious concern and should be treated as such. It impacts cow health, herd performance and, ultimately, profitability on farms.”
A key part of the initiative is a farmer-led project, called the Sound Cow Innovation Programme (SCIP). This is designed to improve cow welfare, reduce economic losses, and enhance sustainability across the dairy sector.
The SCIP project will begin with 10 pilot dairy farms over the course of three years across the country, each receiving tailored veterinary, hoof trimmer and advisory support. This project is facilitated by AHI, with expert collaboration from Teagasc and University College Dublin. Various training and open days will take place over the course of the programme.
As part of the project, farmers will gain access to practical tools and expert advice to prevent and manage lameness on their farms.
Dr Eoin Ryan from UCD said: “Both the prevalence and cost of lameness in Irish dairy, as well as beef and suckler, herds are underestimated significantly.
"Tailored lameness control programmes centred around lameness detection using mobility scoring, allied to regular hoof trimming and the implementation of infectious and non-infectious foot lameness control measures, can have a hugely positive impact on the performance, welfare and sustainability of our herds.”
