Lameness is the second most costly disease in dairy cattle after mastitis, and its prevention through hoof health management is a major welfare and economic opportunity.
Lameness is one of the most prevalent and welfare-significant conditions in dairy farming. Lame cows experience chronic pain that affects every aspect of their welfare - feeding behavior, social interaction, reproductive performance, and milk production. The economic cost of lameness is substantial, yet many farms significantly underestimate their lameness prevalence because severely lame cows adapt their gait in ways that mask obvious limping. Regular mobility scoring by trained observers reveals the true prevalence and enables early intervention. Prevention through flooring improvements, adequate lying time, reduced stocking density, and regular hoof care dramatically reduces both welfare harm and economic loss.