Claw horn lesions including sole ulcers and white line disease are the most common causes of dairy cattle lameness, with prevention through nutrition and flooring management well-established.
Claw horn lesions are painful conditions causing days to weeks of significant lameness before detection and treatment. Prevention is far preferable to treatment - the pain avoidance benefit is clear. Nutritional management preventing subclinical acidosis during transition reduces lesion formation at a metabolic level. Flooring improvements reduce the physical concussion contributing to digital cushion degeneration. Both interventions require capital or management investment that farms sometimes resist, even when the economic case for prevention over treatment is compelling.