Lameness is the most prevalent welfare problem in sheep flocks globally, and emerging detection technologies offer opportunities for earlier intervention and reduced suffering.
Sheep lameness causes chronic pain that significantly impairs quality of life. The scale of the problem is enormous — millions of sheep globally experience painful lameness at any given time, much of it preventable or treatable if detected earlier. Traditional detection relies on visual observation of flocks, which identifies only moderate to severe cases. Emerging technologies including automated gait scoring cameras and accelerometer-based sensors offer the potential to detect early lameness and trigger veterinary intervention before animals reach severe pain states. Farmer education programmes on five-point lameness scoring and prompt treatment have also demonstrated significant welfare improvements.