Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Hock Health and Welfare

Hock lesions are a common welfare indicator in dairy cattle, with housing design and management determining their prevalence.

Key Facts

Hock lesions including swellings, hair loss, and wounds affect up to 70% of dairy cows in some herds
Concrete lying surfaces cause traumatic hock lesions through repeated contact
Rubber mats and adequate bedding depth protect hocks during lying
Stall design including brisket board positioning affects hock injury risk during rising and lying
Hock lesion scoring is incorporated into several welfare assessment protocols as an indicator measure

Welfare Considerations

Hock lesions cause chronic pain and discomfort often accepted as normal in dairy farming. The evidence is clear that housing design - particularly lying surface quality - determines hock health, making this a manageable welfare problem that too often goes unaddressed.

What You Can Do

Support dairy farms investing in rubber matting and deep bedding for lying areas
Advocate for hock lesion monitoring as a mandatory welfare indicator in dairy certification
Choose dairy products from farms with certified good housing welfare standards