Around 90% of dairy cows suffer from lameness, once or often multiple times in their lifetime.

“It’s among the top 3 reasons for involuntary culling, accounting for 15% of all dairy cow culls worldwide.”

And that’s no coincidence. It affects almost every vital function of a cow: walking, eating, lying down, showing heat, and recovery.

The damage?

1. Direct costs for treatment and additional labor
2. Lost revenue due to 10-30% lower milk production
3. Premature culling
4. Reduced fertility
5. Increased risk of other health issues
6. Lower animal welfare scores

The good news? Most lameness damage is preventable.

Earlier detection, smaller impact—but time, labor, and objective signals are scarce. Nedap SmartSight uses AI powered vision technology to monitor each cow’s locomotion multiple times daily, catching lameness before it’s visible and providing reliable scores to guide treatment and recovery.

The result?

Faster action and targeted treatment, ensuring:

• Fewer severe cases
• Reduced treatment time and costs
• Preserved milk yield and fertility
• Improved cow health and welfare

Early intervention shortens lameness cases by an average of 40 days. This translates into an average saving of $45 per cow per year.