Lameness is one of the most prevalent and economically significant welfare problems in dairy and beef cattle, causing chronic pain and significantly reducing quality of life.
Lameness causes chronic, often severe pain that affects every aspect of a cow's daily life. Lame cows struggle to compete for feed and water, have impaired reproduction, and are at higher risk of culling. The problem is often underdetected because farmers habituate to mild lameness as normal. Systematic locomotion scoring, prompt treatment, and addressing risk factors including cubicle design, flooring, and nutrition are all essential components of lameness control programmes that genuinely improve welfare.