Lameness is one of the most prevalent and painful welfare problems in dairy cattle, with systematic locomotion scoring and proactive prevention strategies essential for herd welfare.
Lameness imposes severe and often prolonged welfare costs on dairy cows. Chronic pain from untreated lesions affects all aspects of behavior including lying time, feeding, and social interaction. Lame cows lying down more often may develop secondary injuries from inadequate cubicle design. The high prevalence of lameness across the industry reflects systemic management challenges that require farm-level commitment and investment to address. Regular scoring combined with prompt treatment substantially reduces the welfare burden.