Digital dermatitis is a highly contagious bacterial infection causing painful foot lesions in dairy cattle, requiring systematic treatment and herd-level prevention to control this major welfare problem.
Digital dermatitis causes significant and often underestimated pain. Active M-stage lesions are extremely sensitive and cows may be reluctant to bear weight on affected feet. The widespread prevalence on many dairy farms means large proportions of herds are experiencing ongoing foot pain. Systematic individual cow treatment combined with herd-level foot bathing dramatically reduces the welfare burden. The challenge is maintaining treatment consistency as the condition requires perpetual management.