Return to table of contents Lameness Click to enlarge Professor John Webster, the leading expert on dairy cows, declares lameness is a 'severe problem' for cows. A survey of thirty two dairy farms by Liverpool University scientists in 1999 showed a mean annual incidence of lameness of 54.6 new cases per 100 cows - a horrifying figure. There seem to be many factors contributing to this. Cows are housed in cubicles in winter. The cow's hind feet then spend hours in the slurry passage behind the cubicle.
Many cubicles have inadequate bedding, resulting in abrasions and swellings on the cow's hocks.
This can have knock-on effects on her feet. Return to table of contents Mastitis Click to enlarge Sadly, it's not just lameness which causes so much pain for cows. Mastitis, a bacterial infection of the udder, is also a big problem - with around 35 cases per 100 cows per annum being the average. Poorly designed and maintained milking machines don't help. Dirty housing is another contributory factor .