Identifying lameness
Use our simple eight-step guide to identify lameness in your dairy herd.
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Symptoms and treatment for cows with unusual gait, stiff movements or tender feet.
Identifying and addressing lameness in your herd is an essential part of both animal management and farm business management.
The prevention, early detection and treatment of lameness improves animal welfare by minimising suffering and distress in cows.
Act decisively, treat quickly and check regularly. Use the complete guide to preventing and managing lameness (PDF) to help you manage lameness on your farm.
It can be difficult to identify causes of lameness and make changes to reduce the number of cows becoming lame. Understanding the risk factors is critical. Multiple risk factors may contribute to a lameness problem.
The key risk factors influencing incidence of cow lameness within Australian dairy herds are:
Use our simple eight-step guide to identify lameness in your dairy herd.
Identifying lamenessLearn how to prepare and treat the hoof for different causes of lameness.
Treating lamenessIdentify and improve aspects of your farm that could lead to lameness.
Preventing lamenessLameness or difficulty moving in dairy cows usually comes from an injury or diseases affecting the hoof or leg. But lameness or difficulty moving can also occur alongside specific illnesses that are unrelated to the hoof or leg. These can include:
If you'd like to learn more about lameness in a practical environment, come along to a Healthy Hooves workshop in your region.
Download our lameness resources to keep or share with your on-farm staff
Would you prefer a hard copy? Order the complete set of lameness guides by completing this online form and they will be sent to you.