Lameness in dairy cows is a leading welfare challenge; new detection technologies including gait scoring and sensor systems enable earlier intervention.
Lame dairy cows experience chronic pain that impairs standing, walking, feeding, and reproductive behaviour. Lame cows are more likely to be submitted for early culling, increasing stress in the final weeks of life. Early detection and prompt treatment are critical — lameness that is treated within 2 weeks of onset has much higher cure rates than lameness of longer duration. Hoof trimming, appropriate antibiotic treatment for infectious causes, pain relief, and follow-up checks comprise effective treatment. Farm-level lameness targets (under 10% prevalence) provide measurable welfare benchmarks. Sensor technology allows 24-hour monitoring beyond what stockpeople can observe.