We’ve been happy to have Advanced Robot join our team, we are really starting to see the benefits of their experience. We’ve achieved the target of 2.8 visit average whilst grazing with the ABC system.
Early lameness prevention helps shape heifer success
As lameness remains one of the largest bottlenecks holding back productivity, how can producers spot early warning signs to prevent lameness right from the start? First reported in Dairy Farmer Magazine
Latest figures from AHDB report that lameness is costing producers £30 per incidence and a reported 30% of cows in the national dairy herd experienced lameness issues last year. While many producers are now starting to focus on cow mobility, heifers and youngstock are often overlooked.
Annabelle Staveley from Advanced Ruminant Nutrition says this is a missed opportunity. She says; “Lameness is one of the top three reasons why heifers are culled early. The knock-on effects can be costly and include poor fertility at first service, more days open, vet costs and reduced milk yield.”
Analysing herd data is a key part of her on-farm strategy and a way to identify where mobility issues begin.
She says: “Walking through the heifer facilities with the client often proves invaluable and helps pinpoint any issues, alongside the data. While there’s not always an instant fix for improving facilities overnight, we can prioritise which areas will deliver the best return, with a medium-term plan to “retro fix” the facilities."
Annabelle explains the main areas in which the team commonly find issues across UK farms and explains the strategies they use to help prevent lameness.
Infectious disease
Research shows that heifers experiencing even a single case of digital dermatitis, (DD), before calving are 45% more likely to develop the condition during their first lactation. The risk rises sharply for those with two or more pre-calving infections. Heifers affected by DD also tend to have lower conception rates at first service and spend more days open, both of which can significantly impact long-term productivity and profitability. Annabelle therefore emphasises this as a key area where changes early on could make a huge difference.
“It’s important to analyse data for the whole herd to see where lameness issues may be highlighted. If we take the example of DD, when finding high prevalence in one group, and with the knowledge that the disease incubates for seven days before we can see visible lesions, we will then look at the previous group or shed to implement prevention strategies to stop the spread to the next group,” explains Annabelle.
“As well as analysing the data, we also look at preventing common risk factors for DD which include a moist environment, poor foot hygiene, inconsistent footbathing, and a high stocking density.
She adds that protocols for prevention include introducing footbathing to heifer groups.
Assess the heifer environment
Assessing heifer environments is essential and includes checking walking surfaces in sheds, bedding quality, and stocking densities. The feed fence is one area the team regularly see as placing unnecessary pressure on heifers’ front feet, which can lead to long-term mobility issues.
“This is an area I’m particularly passionate about, as the damage it causes is entirely preventable, yet the consequences can be long lasting and severe,” she explains.
"When neck rails are set too low, heifer are forces to adopt unnatural postrures to access feed placing excessive strain on their front legs," she says. "Combine this with feed that is not regularly pushed within reach, and animals are left stretching, shifting their weight forward repeatedly. Over time, this avoidable pressure can lead to mobility problems such as corkscrew claw.
"Addressing simple infastructure and routine changes can make a significant difference to hoof health."
Reduce stress around calving
The period around calving is a critical time for lameness prevention in heifers and one where producers can help support a smoother transition to help mobility. The aim here is to ensure as few aspects of their environment are new or unfamiliar. Changes in social groups, diet adjustments, and increased time spent on concrete all contribute to stress at an already unfamiliar time for the heifer. This can also be further compounded by physical pressures with the natural relaxation of the suspensory ligaments.
“We therefore need to think about walking surfaces post calving and if heifers are expected to be on concrete post-calving, that they are gradually acclimatised to these conditions beforehand. To minimise disruption and reduce lameness risks, heifers should be introduced during the rearing phase to cubicles, feed barriers and yolks.”
Heifer foot checks, mobility and foot trimming
Recent research carried out by Sara Pedersen highlights the benefits of pre-calving foot checks to reduce lameness in early lactation. Annabelle advises that producers check heifers at 5 – 8 weeks before calving.
“Around calving major physiological changes occur to prepare for birth, ligaments and connective tissues loosen throughout the body and this includes the support structures within the hoof. As a result, the hoof becomes less stable and more prone to damage.”
“The pedal bone can shift or sink, especially if hoof health was already compromised. This displacement can cause irreversible changes to the shape of the bone, once the bone is damaged it cannot return to its original form, leading to chronic lameness. Adding to this risk, the fat pad which cushions impact beneath the pedal bone may be reduced, especially in lower body condition scored animals. Combined, these changes make the transition period a high risk time for hoof damage, increasing the likelihood of conditions such as sole ulcers and white line disease,” explains Annabelle.
Early intervention, good nutirition and sound management is essential.
Collaborating closely with the wider team, including the on-farm team, vet, foot trimmer and nutritionist can help to identify high-risk areas for infection to develop practical, farm-specific prevention strategies. Involving the full team not only strengthens the approach to mobility management but also boosts motivation and accountability across the board.”
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