SCIP: A new approach to tackling lameness in Irish dairy herds

The Sound Cow Innovation Programme, or SCIP, is a new collaborative effort aimed at improving the way lameness is managed on Irish dairy farms. This initiative brings together Teagasc, Animal Health Ireland, University College Dublin, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), and leading hoof care professionals to provide farmers with science-based, yet highly practical, support for tackling this ongoing welfare issue.

Central to SCIP is a preventative approach. Participating farmers will carry out monthly mobility scoring of their herds, using a mobile or online tool to record and track results. This allows for early detection of issues, enabling prompt intervention before lameness worsens. Farmers will also partner with trained vets and hoof trimmers to create tailored lameness management plans suited to their specific herd and system. Plans may involve changes to routine trimming, housing, hygiene, foot bathing practices, or treatment protocols. Training and advisory support are key elements of the programme, helping farmers to build confidence in recognising and addressing early signs of lameness.

Importantly, SCIP is designed to complement what farmers are already doing well. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution, the programme focuses on gradual improvements, supported by accessible technology and expert input. It aims to reduce lameness levels by empowering farmers to take practical steps that make a measurable difference to animal comfort and farm performance.

Benefits of participation include healthier hooves, reduced economic losses linked to lameness, and a likely decrease in antibiotic use thanks to earlier treatment. In the longer term, SCIP also provides a pathway for shaping national standards in lameness control, supporting the sustainability and welfare performance of Ireland’s dairy industry as a whole.

Lameness in dairy cows is typically caused by conditions such as white line disease, sole ulcers and bruising, digital dermatitis (Mortellaro’s disease), and overgrown claws. These conditions arise from a mix of contributing factors, grouped into four broad categories: environment, cow management, nutrition, and individual animal characteristics. Poor roads, dirty or overcrowded housing, and inadequate cubicle or feed space increase environmental risk. On the management side, problems often stem from poor handling, infrequent monitoring, inadequate foot bathing, or purchasing infected stock. Nutritional imbalances can also contribute, especially in thin cows or where dietary changes occur too rapidly. Finally, individual susceptibility may be linked to calving stress, previous lameness, age, or genetics. A major underlying issue is the lack of a consistent strategy to prevent, detect, and manage lameness; this is the very gap that SCIP seeks to fill.

SCIP is co-funded by the European Union and the Government of Ireland