Lameness - A lame topic? Or crucial to Animal Health?

Worldwide the incidence of lameness in cattle, with numerous studies, has indicated that as many as 60% of cows in a given herd will become lame once a year. Most cases of lameness are due to claw lesions (up to 90%) with the minority being associated with upper limb problems. Even though the cows carry half the weight on the front and the other half on the back, most of the foot disease (80%) occur in the back legs. Why? The front feet take 50% of the load but are not involved in propulsion, that job lands on the back legs increasing the load and stress on them. With the front feet cows can consciously see and place their footing evenly. The back feet generally land on the same spot as the front. However, in a stressful environment or treacherous terrain cows are unable to walk evenly. To compound the problems this leaves the cow unbalanced and unable to respond to the pain underfoot caused by stones or pitfalls. Frequently this causes cracks, blunt injury, bruising and white line disease in dairy cattle feet when walking. 

Lameness in an economic point of view has joined mastitis and infertility to become the third most important herd health issue. Clinical lameness causes direct and indirect economic losses. Direct losses occur with anti-biotic treatment leading to the milk they produce to be withheld from human consumption. Premature culling due to poor health and breakdown. Indirect losses incurred due to reduced milk production, poor body condition, reduced fertility, and increased risk of mastitis. Additionally, the pasture based dairy industry in Australasia has an increased challenge due to the need for the cattle to walk greater distances to the dairy. 

Furthermore, lameness is the dairy industries most visible animal welfare concern. This causes lameness to be the most frequently reported welfare complaint to the local veterinary center. This is notwithstanding the still widespread belief amongst the public that cattle are relatively insensitive to pain. 

In conclusion clinical lameness in cattle is often an under appreciated issue that has increasing impact on the dairy industry and is often only the tip of the iceberg that we see.