Director Column

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives
	August 2026 Feedlot lameness causes, consequences, costs, and prevention Finish weights of feeder cattle experiencing lameness are estimated to be 25 to 60 lbs. lighter than cattle not experiencing lameness. With live finished cattle prices for 2026 ranging between $230 and $260 per cwt, this reduces the value of finished cattle $50 to $150 per head, and this does not account for additional treatment costs. The prevalence of feeder cattle lameness is reported to be 5 to 17%, with 70 to 75% of lameness issues arising from problems with the hoof as opposed to the upper leg. Foot rot (41.8%) and digital dermatitis (25.5%) are the leading causes of lameness in feeders with the balance being the result of laminitis, toe tip necrosis syndrome, or injury. While foot rot and laminitis have been long-standing causes of lameness in feeder cattle, the prevalence of digital dermatitis has been steadily increasing in recent years. Each cause of lameness has unique characteristics and symptoms. Foot Rot. Foot rot is commonly caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum but other bacteria also are involved in its development. Bacterial invasion occurs when the integrity of the protective skin barrier of the hoof is compromised by injury or continuous exposure to wet or corrosive conditions. Symptoms of foot rot include swelling between the toes and a foul smell of decaying flesh. Foot rot is responsive to antibiotic treatment, and vaccines against foot rot exist and have been reported to lessen its severity. Foot rot is painful to the animal, and providing pain mitigation during treatment is recommended. Digital Dermatitis. Digital dermatitis has proven to be difficult to manage. Digital dermatitis is also of bacterial origin, with bacteria from the spirochete family commonly reported. Digital dermatitis is contagious, but there are numerous factors involved with this disease establishing itself in feeder cattle. Despite 50 years of research, there has not been a long-lasting treatment identified. Early stages of digital dermatitis result in subtle symptoms with limited lameness, but ulcerated lesions and lameness present later in the feeding period (>100 days of feed). Papillomas (warts) establish between the heel bulbs at the rear of the hoof. Digital dermatitis may result in cattle shifting weight to their toes to avoid pain associated with weight being distributed through the heel. As with foot rot, bacterial invasion occurs when the integrity of the protective skin barrier around the hoof is compromised by injury or continuous exposure to wet or corrosive conditions. Topical sprays, antimicrobials, and foot baths temporarily remedy the problem, but lesions generally return in several weeks. Repeated treatment is needed to manage digital dermatitis for the duration of the feeding period, and costs for labor and supplies associated with treatment accumulate. Laminitis. Laminitis is another common hoof problem with feeder cattle. Laminitis is not caused by bacterial infection, but rather disruption to the connections between the hoof wall and the bone weakens and separates. Laminitis usually results when cattle consume too much rapidly fermented grain, which results in rumen acidosis (clinical or subclinical), leading to inflammation and low blood pH, which disrupt the integrity of the hoof wall. Current market conditions favor feeding cattle high-grain diets more days to achieve heavier finished weights, and these factors can result in greater risk of laminitis in feeder cattle. Prevention and Treatment. Consulting a veterinarian to identify the root cause of the lameness and a proper treatment program are important to minimizing impacts to growth. Treatments, whether permanent or temporary, are costly, labor-intensive, and sometimes have inconsistent efficacy. Efforts to prevent foot rot, digital dermatitis, and laminitis that result in lameness in feeder cattle should be a top priority for feedyards. Below are some dietary and facility management suggestions for minimizing lameness in feeder cattle. Gradually increasing intake of high-grain diets. Use consistent mixing practices and good bunk management to minimize acidosis that contributes to laminitis. Avoid overfeeding protein in the diet. Dietary protein in excess of cattle requirements is excreted in urine and feces. As manure and urine mix into a slurry, ammonia is created. Ammonia is corrosive, and cattle standing in this slurry for a long time can have irritated skin, which allows bacteria to invade the hoof. Maintain pen slopes so that manure slurry can drain from the pens to the holding basin. Include trace minerals in the diet. Trace minerals have many important roles. They are important to strengthening the growing hooves. They are important for maintaining healthy skin, which is a barrier to bacterial invasion, and they are key to a functional immune system, which is important for fighting bacterial invasion should it occur. For deep bedded pens, if pack is not completely removed at cleaning, more frequent cleanings may be needed to avoid compromising the integrity of the hoof. Acidifying bed pack additives may also be used to reduce ammonia emissions and bacterial growth in pack between cleanings. Slatted floor facilities are costly, but alleviate standing manure and urine slurry, keeping hooves drier with limited exposure to ammonia. It is recommended to use rubber mats in slatted floor buildings for weight distribution across the hooves and less abrasion for rough concrete. For open lot pens, significant or continuous rainfall events can result in long periods of cattle standing in mud, which can compromise the protective barrier of the hoof. Making sure pens are properly mounded, allowing for drainage and space for cattle to stand on dry ground becomes important. Attention to hoof health is important for the welfare of cattle as well as supporting growth and value of cattle at harvest. Good nutrition, bunk and facility management are key to good hoof health.

IBC director's monthly column featured in Cattleman Magazine. Archives

August 2026

Feedlot lameness causes, consequences, costs, and prevention

Finish weights of feeder cattle experiencing lameness are estimated to be 25 to 60 lbs. lighter than cattle not experiencing lameness. With live finished cattle prices for 2026 ranging between $230 and $260 per cwt, this reduces the value of finished cattle $50 to $150 per head, and this does not account for additional treatment costs. The prevalence of feeder cattle lameness is reported to be 5 to 17%, with 70 to 75% of lameness issues arising from problems with the hoof as opposed to the upper leg. Foot rot (41.8%) and digital dermatitis (25.5%) are the leading causes of lameness in feeders with the balance being the result of laminitis, toe tip necrosis syndrome, or injury. While foot rot and laminitis have been long-standing causes of lameness in feeder cattle, the prevalence of digital dermatitis has been steadily increasing in recent years. Each cause of lameness has unique characteristics and symptoms.

Foot Rot. Foot rot is commonly caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum but other bacteria also are involved in its development. Bacterial invasion occurs when the integrity of the protective skin barrier of the hoof is compromised by injury or continuous exposure to wet or corrosive conditions. Symptoms of foot rot include swelling between the toes and a foul smell of decaying flesh. Foot rot is responsive to antibiotic treatment, and vaccines against foot rot exist and have been reported to lessen its severity. Foot rot is painful to the animal, and providing pain mitigation during treatment is recommended.

Digital Dermatitis. Digital dermatitis has proven to be difficult to manage. Digital dermatitis is also of bacterial origin, with bacteria from the spirochete family commonly reported. Digital dermatitis is contagious, but there are numerous factors involved with this disease establishing itself in feeder cattle. Despite 50 years of research, there has not been a long-lasting treatment identified. Early stages of digital dermatitis result in subtle symptoms with limited lameness, but ulcerated lesions and lameness present later in the feeding period (>100 days of feed). Papillomas (warts) establish between the heel bulbs at the rear of the hoof. Digital dermatitis may result in cattle shifting weight to their toes to avoid pain associated with weight being distributed through the heel. As with foot rot, bacterial invasion occurs when the integrity of the protective skin barrier around the hoof is compromised by injury or continuous exposure to wet or corrosive conditions. Topical sprays, antimicrobials, and foot baths temporarily remedy the problem, but lesions generally return in several weeks. Repeated treatment is needed to manage digital dermatitis for the duration of the feeding period, and costs for labor and supplies associated with treatment accumulate.

Laminitis. Laminitis is another common hoof problem with feeder cattle. Laminitis is not caused by bacterial infection, but rather disruption to the connections between the hoof wall and the bone weakens and separates. Laminitis usually results when cattle consume too much rapidly fermented grain, which results in rumen acidosis (clinical or subclinical), leading to inflammation and low blood pH, which disrupt the integrity of the hoof wall. Current market conditions favor feeding cattle high-grain diets more days to achieve heavier finished weights, and these factors can result in greater risk of laminitis in feeder cattle.

Prevention and Treatment. Consulting a veterinarian to identify the root cause of the lameness and a proper treatment program are important to minimizing impacts to growth. Treatments, whether permanent or temporary, are costly, labor-intensive, and sometimes have inconsistent efficacy. Efforts to prevent foot rot, digital dermatitis, and laminitis that result in lameness in feeder cattle should be a top priority for feedyards. Below are some dietary and facility management suggestions for minimizing lameness in feeder cattle.

Gradually increasing intake of high-grain diets. Use consistent mixing practices and good bunk management to minimize acidosis that contributes to laminitis.
Avoid overfeeding protein in the diet. Dietary protein in excess of cattle requirements is excreted in urine and feces. As manure and urine mix into a slurry, ammonia is created. Ammonia is corrosive, and cattle standing in this slurry for a long time can have irritated skin, which allows bacteria to invade the hoof. Maintain pen slopes so that manure slurry can drain from the pens to the holding basin.
Include trace minerals in the diet. Trace minerals have many important roles. They are important to strengthening the growing hooves. They are important for maintaining healthy skin, which is a barrier to bacterial invasion, and they are key to a functional immune system, which is important for fighting bacterial invasion should it occur.
For deep bedded pens, if pack is not completely removed at cleaning, more frequent cleanings may be needed to avoid compromising the integrity of the hoof. Acidifying bed pack additives may also be used to reduce ammonia emissions and bacterial growth in pack between cleanings.
Slatted floor facilities are costly, but alleviate standing manure and urine slurry, keeping hooves drier with limited exposure to ammonia. It is recommended to use rubber mats in slatted floor buildings for weight distribution across the hooves and less abrasion for rough concrete.
For open lot pens, significant or continuous rainfall events can result in long periods of cattle standing in mud, which can compromise the protective barrier of the hoof. Making sure pens are properly mounded, allowing for drainage and space for cattle to stand on dry ground becomes important.

Attention to hoof health is important for the welfare of cattle as well as supporting growth and value of cattle at harvest. Good nutrition, bunk and facility management are key to good hoof health.