Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Cattle: Digital Dermatitis Welfare

Digital dermatitis (Mortellaro's disease) is the most common cause of lameness in UK dairy cattle, causing significant pain and welfare harm.

Key Facts

Digital dermatitis affects the skin above the heel of the hoof, caused by multiple bacterial species
Clinical presentation ranges from early proliferative lesions to acute painful ulcers
The active M2 lesion causes acute pain with affected cows showing severe lameness
Treatment with oxytetracycline spray is effective for early lesions but less so for chronic cases
Herd-level control requires systematic foot bathing, foot inspection, and treatment protocols

Welfare Considerations

Digital dermatitis causes significant pain in the acute M2 stage, with affected cows visibly lame and reluctant to bear weight. The chronic M4 stage may appear less painful but remains a welfare concern. Herd-level prevalence in many UK dairy herds exceeds 25%, representing a large-scale welfare problem. Systematic detection through regular foot inspection and consistent treatment protocols reduce both prevalence and individual animal welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Implement monthly foot inspection of all cows to detect and treat early lesions
Establish a foot bathing programme using evidence-based protocols
Treat all active M2 lesions promptly with oxytetracycline spray
Monitor digital dermatitis prevalence as a welfare KPI for your herd
Work with your vet on a written digital dermatitis control plan