Lameness is one of the most prevalent and undertreated welfare problems in dairy cattle, with painful leg and foot conditions affecting 20-40% of cows in intensive systems and significantly reducing quality of life.
Lameness causes chronic pain that affects cattle throughout their daily activities. A lame cow that must stand and walk to reach food and water does so at significant pain cost, and will reduce these essential activities, compromising nutrition and overall health. Lame cows rest differently, avoid concrete surfaces, show altered social behavior, and have measurably higher stress hormone levels. Despite the economic case for prompt treatment, lameness is frequently identified late and treated inadequately in commercial dairy settings due to labor constraints and the difficulty of detecting early lameness in large herds.