Better records lead to healthier cows, stronger performance and smarter breeding decisions.
Recording lameness and mastitis on your dairy farm is one of the most important—but often overlooked—steps in improving herd health, milk production, and farm profitability.
Lameness and mastitis are among the most common and costly health issues on Irish dairy farms. Without proper recording, they can go unnoticed until they begin to negatively impact cow performance, fertility, and milk yield.
Low levels of recording also reduce the accuracy of key tools like the Economic Breeding Index (EBI), particularly the Health and Management sub-indexes, limiting their usefulness for decision-making.
By simply recording every case as it happens, farmers can make better decisions that improve both short-term herd performance and long-term genetic progress.
Top Benefits of Recording Lameness and Mastitis
Recording these health events delivers real, practical benefits on farm:
1. Identify Problem Cows Faster
- Spot repeat cases of lameness or mastitis early
- Put the right treatment plan in place quickly
- Reduce long-term health costs
2. Improve Breeding Decisions
- Data feeds into national genetic evaluations
- Helps identify AI sires that reduce mastitis and lameness
- Supports breeding for healthier, more productive cows
3. Increase EBI Accuracy
- Improves reliability of Health and Management sub-indexes
- Gives you greater confidence when selecting replacement heifers
4. Make Better Culling Decisions
- Information feeds into the Cow’s Own Worth (C.O.W.)
- Helps identify cows that are consistently underperforming
5. Support Selective Dry Cow Therapy (SDCT)
- Enables more targeted antibiotic use
- Helps reduce the risk of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
How to Record Lameness and Mastitis on HerdPlus
Recording is quick and can be done in a way that suits your farm setup:
Using the HerdPlus App
- Record cases as they happen on farm
- Data uploads instantly to the ICBF database
- Go to: Record Events → Temperament
- Select the animal and record lameness or mastitis events
- Click Save
Using HerdPlus on Desktop
- Log into your account
- Go to: Record Events → Health & Disease / Health & Temperament
- Select affected cows and record events
- You can also record data for animals that have already left the herd
Uploading from Farm Software
- Health data can be uploaded directly from compatible farm software providers
Using Paper Recording Sheets
- Fill out a Health & Temperament Recording Sheet
- Send it back to ICBF and it will be uploaded for you
- Ideal if you prefer a simple paper-based system
Watch the full video below on how to record lameness and mastitis on the ICBF HerdPlus App.