We can all agree that a lame cow takes advantage of valuable time and money. When a cow becomes lame, additional internal inflammation occurs – diverting energy away from reproductive success and milk output.

Recent research conducted by University of British Columbia’s Dairy Education and Research Centre has produced a method of low-cost lameness detection that can be conducted faster than conventional locomotion scoring.

The latest data shows between 2% and 54% of dairy cows worldwide can be lame in a given year.

Digital dermatitis, an infectious hoof disease, and non-infectious hoof challenges, like white-line disease, thin soles and sole ulcers, are common occurrences across dairies that often go undetected until it is too late.

Lameness is one of the costliest disorders of dairy cattle, even in a grazing dairy herd. Yet, many grazing dairy cattle are not part of a routine hoof trimming schedule.

The dairy industry's reliance on indoor housing systems that restrict animal movement has raised concerns about animal welfare. Although many dairy farms in Canada still rely on facilities that restrict animal movement without providing pasture access, studies have shown that cows benefit greatly from spending time outdoors.