Assessment and management of pain associated with lameness in cattle

Abstract

Lameness impacts the cattle industry in economic losses and welfare considerations. In addition to production deficits, pain and distress associated with lameness have been documented. The evaluation and prevalence of lame cattle is one of the primary factors in third-party welfare audit programs. To improve earlier detection and treatment of lameness, locomotion scoring systems have been developed for routine use by farm employees. Recommendations for pain management typically include the use of a multimodal therapeutic approach. Similarly, in lame cattle, pain can best be alleviated by implementing a multimodal approach including corrective claw trimming and placement of foot blocks combined with additional benefits provided by analgesic compounds.