Digital dermatitis, also called Mortellaro's disease, is the most common cause of infectious lameness in dairy cattle worldwide. It causes significant pain, reduces production, and is a major welfare priority in modern dairy farming.
Lameness is consistently rated by both experts and producers as one of the most significant welfare problems in dairy farming. Digital dermatitis causes chronic pain that affects feeding behaviour, reproduction, and social interactions. Lame cows have lower milk yields, poorer reproductive performance, and higher culling rates — creating welfare-production alignment that should motivate producer action. Welfare scoring using locomotion scoring systems enables identification of lame cows before disease progresses. Regular foot trimming, footbathing compliance, and early case treatment are the pillars of herd-level control. Consumer demand for dairy products from farms with documented lameness control programs can drive industry-wide welfare improvement.