Lameness is the second most costly welfare problem in dairy herds worldwide, affecting up to 25% of cows in some systems. The design of cubicle beds, passageways, and flooring directly determines how many cows develop painful foot conditions.
Lameness causes persistent pain affecting every aspect of a cow's daily life — feeding, drinking, social interaction, and lying time. A lame cow may stand for 14+ hours per day to avoid the pain of lying down and rising, causing further musculoskeletal stress. Early detection through locomotion scoring, combined with prompt foot trimming and treatment, reduces the duration of suffering. Housing design is the primary prevention tool: cubicle length must allow cows to lunge forward when rising (at least 2.4 m for Holsteins), and passage grooves or rubber flooring reduce slip injuries. Effective footbathing protocols prevent digital dermatitis, a major welfare problem.