Lameness is a significant welfare problem in feedlot cattle caused by digital dermatitis, laminitis, and foot rot, requiring prompt treatment and preventive management.
Lameness in feedlot cattle causes significant and often chronic pain that impairs normal behaviour, reduces feed intake, and compromises welfare across the duration of the production period. Lame cattle show reluctance to move, reduced time standing at feed troughs, and abnormal weight-bearing that indicates ongoing pain. Identification and prompt treatment is the immediate welfare intervention, but prevention through foot bathing, appropriate diet management to reduce acidosis risk, and housing surface management provides more durable welfare protection. Regular lameness scoring enables early identification of affected cattle before pain becomes severe.