Vol. 10, Issue 1, Part C (2026)

Lameness is one of the most prevalent, multifactorial, and economically important health disorders affecting dairy cattle worldwide, with serious implications for animal welfare, productivity, and herd longevity. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the etiology, pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and herd-level management of lameness in dairy cows. Lameness is primarily associated with hoof and limb disorders, particularly claw horn lesions, digital dermatitis, and laminitis, and is most frequently observed during early lactation when cows experience negative energy balance, metabolic stress, and rapid physiological changes. The condition significantly reduces milk yield, milk solids, and reproductive efficiency, while increasing treatment costs, culling rates, and overall economic losses. Patho-physiologically, lameness involves complex interactions between metabolic disturbances, vascular dysfunction, mechanical overload, and inflammatory processes within the claw. Subclinical laminitis plays a crucial role in the development of chronic hoof lesions and often remains undetected until production losses become evident. Risk factors vary across herds and include nutritional imbalances, improper housing design, poor flooring and drainage, inadequate claw trimming, infectious pathogens, genetic predisposition, age, body condition score, and environmental stressors such as heat and humidity. The review also highlights the importance of accurate lameness detection through locomotion scoring and behavioural assessment. Effective control of lameness requires an integrated herd-level approach encompassing balanced nutrition, functional claw trimming, appropriate housing and flooring, regular foot bathing, and timely intervention. Addressing lameness as a herd problem through preventive management strategies is essential for improving dairy cow welfare, enhancing productivity, and ensuring long-term farm sustainability.