Livestock

Laminitis in Dairy Cattle: Prevention and Management

Laminitis is a painful hoof condition affecting a significant proportion of dairy cattle, caused by management, nutrition and flooring factors.

Key Facts

Between 20-30% of dairy cows experience laminitis annually in intensive systems
Laminitis causes lameness, reduced milk production and early culling
Concrete flooring increases laminitis risk compared to rubber or soft surfaces
Transition diet management is critical in preventing subclinical laminitis
Locomotion scoring allows early identification and treatment of affected cows

Welfare Considerations

Laminitis causes chronic, severe pain that significantly compromises welfare. Lame cows show reluctance to walk, stand unevenly, lose body condition and often lie down for extended periods. Many cases are subclinical initially, progressing to severe lameness before detection. Regular locomotion scoring, prompt treatment and attention to nutrition and flooring design can dramatically reduce laminitis prevalence and the suffering it causes.

What You Can Do

Support farms with active lameness reduction programmes and regular scoring
Advocate for rubber flooring standards in dairy housing regulations
Choose dairy products from farms with low lameness prevalence
Support research into laminitis prevention and early detection tools