Lameness is one of the most prevalent and welfare-significant conditions in dairy and beef cattle, and most cases are preventable with good husbandry.
Cattle lameness is simultaneously one of the most common and most tractable welfare problems in modern dairy farming. The fact that lameness rates of 20-25% are considered normal on many farms reflects an acceptance of preventable suffering that would be considered unacceptable in almost any other context involving animals. The welfare case for lameness prevention and prompt treatment is strong: lame cattle experience pain that alters their behavior, suppresses their immune function, and reduces their life quality in measurable ways. The solutions are known — better flooring, regular professional foot care, prompt identification through locomotion scoring, and effective analgesia — and they are economically justified as well as ethically required.