Artificial intelligence detection brings lameness into focus
- ZISK
- Aug 12
- 1 min read
Lameness often goes unnoticed despite being one of the most common health issues in dairy herds. AI detection tools help farms catch hoof problems earlier and manage them more effectively.
Lameness affects an average of 20% to 30% of the nation’s dairy herd. Even if you are getting eyes on your cows every day, it is easy to miss a slight limp or subtle change in gait, especially as herd size grows. Many farms underestimate this challenge, thinking only 5% to 10% of their herd is lame, when in reality, it may be closer to 20% to 25%. That’s where artificial intelligence (AI) detection comes in – spotting signs the human eye might overlook.
When not addressed, lameness can take a significant toll on profitability, leading to lower production, reproduction setbacks and growing animal welfare concerns. On average, a single case of lameness costs $336.91, with digital dermatitis (DD) as the leading cause – costing $100 more than the other culprits. For every week a cow remains lame, it costs a farmer $13.26.
Terry Canning
August 4, 2025
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