Lameness affects 15 to 36 percent of dairy cows and 10 to 15 percent of feedlot cattle at any given time, representing one of the most prevalent chronic pain conditions in farmed animal agriculture.
Lame cattle experience chronic pain with every step they take. As animals that stand and walk constantly, they cannot rest their way through recovery as humans might. The pain of sole ulcers - exposed sensitive corium in the hoof - creates a persistent burning discomfort during weight-bearing. Lame cows spend less time at the feed bunk and water trough because walking is painful, compounding their welfare problems with malnutrition and dehydration. Studies comparing lameness scores and cortisol levels confirm the pain interpretation of behavioral changes in lame cattle. The high prevalence of lameness in commercial dairy systems means this is not a minor issue affecting individual animals but a systematic welfare problem affecting hundreds of millions of cattle globally.