Lameness is one of the most prevalent welfare problems in dairy and beef cattle. Prevention through hoof care, flooring design, and nutrition significantly reduces suffering.
Cattle lameness causes significant, often chronic suffering. Lame animals reduce activity, spend more time lying, eat less, show reduced social engagement, and perform worse in all welfare assessments. The causes are complex and interconnected: housing environment (flooring, stocking density), nutrition, hoof care practices, and infectious disease (especially digital dermatitis) all contribute. Prevention requires a systematic approach: regular veterinary hoof trimming, prompt treatment of early lesions before they become severe, flooring that provides traction and cushioning, and nutritional management to maintain hoof horn quality. Herd lameness scoring programs that regularly monitor the prevalence of lameness enable data-driven management and track progress over time.