Lameness is one of the most prevalent and welfare-significant health problems in dairy cows, causing chronic pain and affecting millions of animals across global dairy systems.
Lameness is acutely painful and, at a herd prevalence of 20-25%, represents a massive welfare burden across the global dairy industry. Research using pain assessment tools confirms that lame cows experience pain comparable to moderate-severe human musculoskeletal conditions. Despite this, many lame cows go untreated for weeks due to inadequate monitoring and treatment infrastructure on farm. The condition is also substantially preventable through hoof health management — regular trimming, clean concrete, softer flooring, and dry cow tracks all significantly reduce lameness rates. Farms committed to mobility scoring and regular remedial trimming achieve herd prevalences well below industry averages.