WP4: Automated Cow Welfare SOP for Dairy Farms

This case study explores the automation of data integration into the Animal Welfare Scan app, a tool developed by Belgium’s Boerenbond and ILVO to assess dairy cow welfare using the Welfare Quality® framework. It examines how data from national health agencies, milk labs, and herd management systems can be automatically incorporated to reduce manual input. The study identifies challenges in questionnaire clarity and practicality, especially for small farms, and highlights the importance of demonstrating value to users. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for cow comfort is introduced, integrating sensor data (rumination, lying times) and visual assessments. Key indicators include rumination time, lying behavior, and cubicle usage, with thresholds for intervention. The app, available on Android, iOS, and web, supports data-driven welfare improvements while emphasizing adaptability and secure data governance through collaborations with Belgian and Dutch dairy data hubs.