Lameness is the third most significant welfare and economic problem in dairy cattle globally. Early detection and treatment prevents chronic pain and productivity loss for millions of cows.
Cattle lameness causes chronic pain that significantly compromises welfare and is frequently underdetected because farmers see affected animals daily and may normalize gait changes. Validated locomotion scoring systems that assess walking pattern provide an objective welfare metric, but require training and consistent application. Automated locomotion scoring using camera systems and machine learning is increasingly available and can detect early-stage lameness more reliably than visual observation. Treatment of early-stage lameness is straightforward and highly effective; advanced lameness with deep tissue involvement requires extended treatment or culling. Farms with systematic lameness detection programs achieve dramatically lower prevalence through earlier intervention, demonstrating that the welfare business case is aligned with economic interest.