Cattle lameness management for reproductive and production efficiency- review

Abstract

Lameness is a major health and economic issue in dairy cattle, leading to reduced milk yield, feed intake, reproductive efficiency, and increased treatment costs and slaughter rates. Treatment for lameness in dairy cattle is often a prolonged process, lasting several months, due to the multifactorial nature of the condition and the complexity of its underlying causes. This review highlights the multifactorial nature of lameness, involving environmental, nutritional, and diseaserelated factors, as well as systemic and local infections. Effective diagnosis, including mobility scoring and advanced tools like thermal imaging, is crucial for early detection and intervention. Preventive measures, such as regular hoof inspections, balanced nutrition, hoof baths, and hygienic living conditions, are essential to reduce lameness prevalence and improve animal welfare and farm profitability.