Lameness is the most economically significant welfare problem in dairy cattle globally. Evidence-based prevention and treatment approaches can dramatically reduce its prevalence.
Dairy cow lameness is simultaneously one of the most prevalent and most preventable welfare problems in the industry. Lame cows experience chronic pain that reduces feed intake, social behavior, and productivity. The causes are well-understood: hard concrete flooring without rubber matting causes claw horn disruption; inadequate nutrition in transition cow management predisposes to digital dermatitis; overcrowded cubicles increase standing time on concrete. The solutions are equally well-understood: rubber flooring significantly reduces lameness incidence; nutritional management in the transition period reduces metabolic disease that predisposes to lame conditions; regular mobility scoring allows early treatment before lameness becomes severe. The gap between knowledge and implementation reflects economic and management barriers that welfare incentive systems and farm assurance programs can help address.