Lameness is one of the most prevalent and painful conditions in dairy cattle, causing chronic suffering that is substantially preventable with good management.
Cattle lameness causes prolonged, significant pain that is often inadequately recognised and treated. A lame cow shifting weight to unaffected limbs, reluctant to walk or stand, is displaying visible suffering that should trigger immediate veterinary assessment and treatment. Yet lameness prevalence surveys consistently show that a large proportion of lame cows go unrecognised or are treated late. The welfare costs compound over time: chronic lameness causes secondary joint disease, metabolic problems from reduced intake, and reproductive failure. Prevention is more effective than treatment: optimising floor surfaces, providing adequate lying time, maintaining hoof trimming schedules, and treating early lesions before they become severe reduces both prevalence and suffering.