Lameness affects 20-25% of dairy cows and significant proportions of other livestock, representing one of the most prevalent and preventable welfare problems in farming.
Lameness causes chronic pain that impairs feeding, social interaction, and normal movement for affected animals. Dairy cows in pain from lameness compete less effectively at feed troughs, lose body condition, and show behavioral signs of sustained discomfort. The high prevalence in commercial dairy herds means lameness affects tens of millions of cattle worldwide at any given time.