It’s more than showing up with a limp. Lameness in dairy cattle costs productivity and economic losses. It affects other animal welfare factors including body condition, hock condition, and leg hygiene. Lameness may also influence resting and lying down behaviors as they seek comfort.
Source: National Institutes of Health, November 2017. Link Gait changes and other behaviors can be important indicators of identifying lameness and applying a lameness scoring system.
INSIGHTS: This article offers something on-farm representatives can share with dairy producers and have immediate positive impacts. Veterinarians and dairy workers who note specific gait changes and other dairy cow behavior nuances can improve lameness scoring systems. Less lameness improves productivity, animal welfare and profitability.