Laminitis is a painful inflammatory condition of the hoof affecting large numbers of dairy and beef cattle. Its prevalence and welfare impact make it one of the most significant health-welfare challenges in modern livestock farming.
Laminitis is a welfare crisis in modern dairy farming at enormous scale. The pain of laminitis is severe: inflammation within the rigid hoof wall causes tissue pressure with no capacity for swelling, making even moderate cases acutely painful. Cows with laminitis walk reluctantly, spend more time lying, and show reduced feed intake affecting both welfare and production. Chronic laminitis causes permanent structural damage within the hoof with ongoing pain throughout the affected animals life. The causal connection to high-energy diets designed to maximise milk production means that the welfare cost of laminitis is a direct consequence of production incentive structures. Management systems that prioritise cow health including better nutritional management, rubber flooring, and reduced housing time significantly reduce laminitis prevalence.