Farmed Animals

Preventing Lameness in Dairy Cattle

Prevention is more effective and welfare-friendly than treatment when it comes to lameness in dairy cattle herds.

Key Facts

Infectious causes of lameness including digital dermatitis can be controlled through footbathing
Non-infectious lameness including white line disease is linked to transition cow management
Claw trimming every 6 months prevents overgrowth and corrects early lesions
Track and concrete surface quality significantly affect lameness risk
Lameness prevention programs reduce herd prevalence from 30% to under 10% when well implemented

Welfare Considerations

Lameness prevention in dairy cattle requires a whole-herd approach addressing nutrition, housing, handling, and foot care. Transition cow management is particularly critical, as the period around calving is associated with the highest risk of developing claw horn lesions. Routine preventive foot trimming, footbathing for infectious disease, and housing improvements reduce the incidence and welfare cost of lameness substantially.

What You Can Do

Support welfare schemes that require preventive lameness management programs
Advocate for transition cow nutrition protocols as a welfare requirement
Raise awareness about lameness prevention as more effective than reactive treatment
Support on-farm lameness prevention advisory services
Choose dairy products from farms with documented preventive lameness management