Risk Factors Associated with Foot Lameness in Dairy Cattle and a Suggested Approach for Lameness Reduction

Lameness in cattle is a clinical sign with a multifactorial aetiology. A focused programme for lameness reduction requires that farmers and their advisors recognise the main types of lameness occurring in cattle on their farm(s) and know the seasonal and lactational patterns of lameness and the management and environment of these cattle. In this paper we propose an approach to targeting cattle lameness using the above information together with published and new findings on risks for lameness in cattle to move towards targeted programmes for reduction in lameness. Whilst we still have many questions on the aetiology and pathogenesis of the lesions associated with lameness, research from the last 10 years can assist our understanding and we anticipate that research in the next 10 years will strengthen this understanding so that we can be more accurate in targeted programmes that reduce lameness in dairy cows.