Lameness is one of the most significant and prevalent welfare problems in dairy and beef cattle, requiring integrated prevention and treatment approaches.
Cattle lameness represents both a pervasive welfare problem and an area where substantial improvement is achievable through evidence-based management. The chronic pain experienced by lame cows affects their entire behavioral and physiological state — they eat less, lie down more, reduce social interaction, and show facial indicators of pain. The relationship between housing design, flooring, nutrition, and lameness is well understood, and farms that implement integrated lameness management programs routinely achieve lameness prevalences below 10%. Regular mobility scoring that enables early intervention, functional foot trimming, and housing improvements that reduce the risk factors are the core elements of effective lameness control.