How comprehensive hoof health programs and farm management practices can dramatically reduce lameness prevalence in dairy herds.
Dairy cattle lameness represents perhaps the most widespread welfare problem in UK and global dairy farming, with prevalence rates that would be considered unacceptable in any companion animal context. Lameness is painful and causes sustained reduction in quality of life including altered behavior, reduced social interaction and impaired feeding that compounds the suffering of already high-production animals. The strong economic case for lameness prevention means that the welfare case and the business case point in the same direction, yet herd lameness rates remain high in many operations suggesting that barriers beyond economic incentive must be addressed. These include stockperson training, management commitment, infrastructure investment and access to skilled foot trimming services.