The GB Dairy Cow Lameness Manifesto is celebrating a successful first year of industry collaboration and positive progress towards improving dairy cow welfare.
Launched in January 2025, the manifesto – supported by Ruminant Health & Welfare and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) – has brought together 27 organisations including veterinary groups, milk processors, technology companies, universities and farmer support networks.
Coordinated by the Dairy Cattle Mobility Steering Group, its ambitious goal is to reduce lameness prevalence among dairy cows from around the estimated 30% today to below 5% in at least 95% of herds by 2044.
Lameness remains the leading endemic health issue in UK dairy cattle, costing the sector an estimated £568 million annually through lost production, reduced fertility and increased culling.
In its first year, the manifesto has focused on building the infrastructure needed to drive long-term change. Veterinary practices have expanded training and developed ‘Mobility Mentor’ capacity to support farmers in delivering structured, preventative foot health plans such as the Healthy Feet Programme.
At the same time, new discussion groups and farmer-led initiatives have strengthened knowledge exchange and peer-to-peer learning on farm.
Technology adoption has also accelerated. Automated detection systems are now being integrated into herd management, supporting earlier identification of lame cows and more targeted interventions, allowing farmers to overcome labour constraints while improving the consistency of mobility scoring.
Professional standards have also been strengthened through expanded hoof trimming training and accreditation, alongside the continued growth of the Register of Mobility Scorers.
Importantly, the initiative is already delivering on-farm impact. Farms participating in structured programmes are reporting improved mobility outcomes through practical, farm-specific action plans and ongoing support.
However, 2026 will be a critical year as the focus shifts from building momentum to overcoming key barriers to adoption. Economic pressures on dairy farms continue to limit investment capacity, while scaling up Mobility Mentor support to reach all herds remains a significant challenge.
Increasing farmer engagement is also crucial, particularly where lameness is under-recognised despite high prevalence. At the same time, the industry must establish robust, practical systems for measuring national progress without undermining farmer confidence or participation.
Chair of the Dairy Cattle Mobility Steering Group Dr Laura Randall, of the University of Nottingham, says: “This is a 20-year commitment. The diversity and commitment of our signatories, the tangible activities being undertaken and the growing infrastructure of training, technology and knowledge exchange provide reason for optimism. With continued effort, the vision of minimal lameness across GB dairy herds can be realised.”
Download the 2026 review of progress report by clicking here.
Find the full manifesto including how to sign up as a signatory here: https://ruminanthw.org.uk/activities/uk-welfare-strategies/dairy-cow-lameness/