Dairy Cow Mobility and Lameness

Dear Colleagues,

The worldwide dairy sector faces many challenges as it continues to both expand, mechanise and intensify in order to meet the demands of a growing and increasingly affluent world population. There is increasing evidence that lameness is in part linked to a number of the management changes taking place as a consequence of these developments (e.g., lameness is positively associated with higher milk yield). Of equal concern, primary research investigating the aetiopathogenesis, treatment and prevention of lameness in dairy cows has lagged behind that of similarly important diseases such as mastitis and infertility. Considerable amount of information currently used by vets, advisors and foot trimmers to treat and prevent lameness on-farm is in fact received wisdom unsubstantiated by experimental research. There is a danger that levels of lameness could deteriorate without further advances in our understanding of how to control this key endemic disease.

Original manuscripts that address any aspects of dairy cow mobility and lameness are invited for this special edition; work that furthers our understanding of the aetiology, prevention and treatment of the claw horn lesions is particularly welcome.

Prof. Dr. Jon Huxley
Guest Editor

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