Case report: Engaging farm staff in a lameness control programme

In December 2006 a lameness programme was initiated on a commercial herd of 110 Holstein Friesian milking cows. Previous lameness scoring, conducted about three times per year, had indicated approximately 30–45% of cows were lame at any one time. Following an initial investigation, which inadvertently damaged farm staff morale, regular mobility scoring was implemented combined with quarterly reviews aimed at supporting the farm manager in decision‐making. Through a staged process over the course of 12 months the herd lameness improved, taking the farm into the top 25% of farms for herd mobility.