{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:29:08Z","timestamp":1787027348011,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]],"date-time":"2025-04-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745798400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Lameness in dairy cattle has continued to be a significant burden for farmers in modern dairy production due to its impact on animal welfare and productivity. A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2022 to February 2023 to estimate the prevalence and identify associated risk factors of lameness in 433 dairy cows across 37 selected farms located in Dessie and Kombolcha, Northeast Ethiopia.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The selected animals were examined for lameness using a five-point visual locomotion scoring technique during daily outdoor access on a solid walking surface in the designated refreshment areas. Cows with a lameness score of &amp;gt; 2 were considered clinically lame. The overall prevalence of lameness was defined as the total number of clinically lame animals divided by the total number of animals examined. The herd-level prevalence was calculated as the total number of positive herds divided by the total number of herds sampled. After variable screening using univariable analysis, separate multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models that included farm as a random effect were fitted to identify risk factors for lameness at both the animal and herd levels.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The overall prevalence of lameness was 5.77% (95%CI = 3.57\u20137.98%). The herd-level lameness prevalence was 32.4% (95%CI = 18.0\u201349.8%), while the average within-herd lameness prevalence was 5.20% (95%CI = 2.46\u20137.95%, range = 0.00\u201325.0%). The animal- and herd-level risk factors included in the final multivariable mixed-effects model were age, body condition score, milking status, and farm history of lameness. Among these, only milking status and lameness history were significant in the final model. The odds of being lame were higher in the cows in the middle (OR = 10.8, 95%CI = 1.37\u201384.8,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.024) and late (OR = 11.1, 95%CI = 1.38\u201388.8,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.024) stages of lactation. Furthermore, the animals on farms with a history of lameness (OR = 10.0, 95%CI = 2.87\u201337.4,\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      = 0.001) were more likely to be clinically lame.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Lameness was strongly associated with the middle and late stages of lactation, particularly on farms with a previous history of lameness. Therefore, farmers should regularly monitor and maintain cows\u2019 lactation status and increase their awareness about lameness on farms to help reduce its occurrence.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2025.1456527","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]],"date-time":"2025-04-28T10:04:00Z","timestamp":1745834640000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Prevalence and risk factors for lameness in dairy cattle on selected farms located in Dessie and Kombolcha, Northeast Ethiopia"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"12","author":[{"given":"Hasen Ahimed","family":"Mekonin","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abadi Amare","family":"Reda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alula Alemayehu","family":"Assen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Awol Mohammed","family":"Assen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"492","DOI":"10.1136\/inp.c6672","article-title":"Lameness in UK dairy cows: a review of the current status","volume":"32","author":"Archer","year":"2010","journal-title":"In Pract"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12917-019-2095-2","article-title":"A systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors associated with lameness in dairy cows","volume":"15","author":"Oehm","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Vet Res"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"199","DOI":"10.3390\/dairy3010016","article-title":"Lameness in dairy cow herds: disease aetiology, prevention and management","volume":"3","author":"Garvey","year":"2022","journal-title":"Dairy"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0285840","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0285840","article-title":"Retrospective study of lameness in beef cattle in northeastern Sardinia, Italy","volume":"18","author":"Morrone","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.7120\/09627286.24.1.055","article-title":"Effectiveness of animal health and welfare planning in dairy herds: a review","volume":"24","author":"Tremetsberger","year":"2015","journal-title":"Anim Welf"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvfa.2017.02.008","article-title":"The impact of lameness on welfare of the dairy cow","volume":"33","author":"Whay","year":"2017","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1462","DOI":"10.1017\/S1751731118000575","article-title":"Animal board invited review: dairy cow lameness expenditures, losses and total cost","volume":"12","author":"Dolecheck","year":"2018","journal-title":"Animal"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1511","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2017-13207","article-title":"Detection of lameness in dairy cows using a grooming device","volume":"101","author":"Mandel","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.livsci.2018.09.008","article-title":"The effect of lameness-causing lesions on milk yield and fertility of primiparous Holstein cows in a hot environment","volume":"217","author":"Mellado","year":"2018","journal-title":"Livest Sci"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2519","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2022-22446","article-title":"Cost of lameness in dairy herds: an integrated bioeconomic modeling approach","volume":"106","author":"Robcis","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6041","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2021-21329","article-title":"Effects of routine treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs at calving and when lame on the future probability of lameness and culling in dairy cows: a randomized controlled trial","volume":"105","author":"Wilson","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3197","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2023-23928","article-title":"Sensitivity and specificity of mobility scoring for the detection of foot lesions in pasture-based Irish dairy cows","volume":"107","author":"Logan","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4115","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(04)73554-7","article-title":"Effect of lameness on culling in dairy cows","volume":"87","author":"Booth","year":"2004","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2018.06.007","article-title":"Lameness on Brazilian pasture based dairies\u2014part 1: farmers\u2019 awareness and actions","volume":"157","author":"Bran","year":"2018","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1007\/s11250-021-03025-2","article-title":"Antimicrobials use and their indications in dairy farm and individual farmer production conditions in southern India","volume":"54","author":"Sharma","year":"2022","journal-title":"Trop Anim Health Prod"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"838","DOI":"10.3390\/ani5030387","article-title":"Lameness detection in dairy cows: part 1. How to distinguish between non-lame and lame cows based on differences in locomotion or behavior","volume":"5","author":"Van Nuffel","year":"2015","journal-title":"Animals"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1741","DOI":"10.1007\/s11250-017-1387-4","article-title":"Prevalence of lameness, claw lesions, and associated risk factors in dairy farms in Selangor, Malaysia","volume":"49","author":"Sadiq","year":"2017","journal-title":"Trop Anim Health Prod"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3347","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2023-23870","article-title":"Invited review: prevalence, risk factors, treatment, and barriers to best practice adoption for lameness and injuries in dairy cattle\u2014a narrative review","volume":"107","author":"Roche","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115","DOI":"10.12968\/live.2021.26.3.115","article-title":"Early detection and prompt effective treatment of lameness in dairy cattle","volume":"26","author":"Pedersen","year":"2021","journal-title":"Livestock"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1080\/00480169.2024.2345257","article-title":"Farm-level risk factors and treatment protocols for lameness in New Zealand dairy cattle","volume":"72","author":"Mason","year":"2024","journal-title":"N Z Vet J"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"626","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2012.06.043","article-title":"The effects of early treatment for hindlimb lameness in dairy cows on four commercial UK farms","volume":"193","author":"Leach","year":"2012","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2017.11.003","article-title":"A systematic review of tests for the detection and diagnosis of foot lesions causing lameness in dairy cows","volume":"149","author":"Dutton-Regester","year":"2018","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105975","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2023.105975","article-title":"Prevalence of lameness in dairy cows: a literature review","volume":"295","author":"Thomsen","year":"2023","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref24","volume-title":"Review on the prevalence and risk factors of dairy cattle lameness in Ethiopia","author":"Duba","year":"2021"},{"key":"ref25","first-page":"9","article-title":"Epidemiology of lameness in extensive and intensive dairy farms in Bishoftu town, Central Oromia, Ethiopia","volume":"8","author":"Abunna","year":"2017","journal-title":"Biomirror"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"27","DOI":"10.4314\/evj.v25i2.3","article-title":"Dairy cattle lameness prevalence, causes and risk factors in selected farms of southern Ethiopia","volume":"25","author":"Sheferaw","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ethiop Vet J"},{"key":"ref27","first-page":"01","article-title":"Lameness in dairy cattle: prevalence, risk factors and impact on milk production","volume":"8","author":"Sulayeman","year":"2012","journal-title":"Glob Vet"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"22","DOI":"10.20431\/2349-0365.0608004","article-title":"Prevalence of lameness in dairy cattle reared in Wolaita Soddo and the nearby Kebeles of Bossa Kacha and Offa sere","volume":"6","author":"Henta","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Res"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2612","DOI":"10.14202\/vetworld.2020.2612-2617","article-title":"Prevalence of foot disorders in lactating Jersey cows raised in semi-confinement","volume":"13","author":"Matias","year":"2020","journal-title":"Vet World"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"535","DOI":"10.1016\/j.cvfa.2012.07.003","article-title":"Clinical diagnosis of foot and leg lameness in cattle","volume":"28","author":"Shearer","year":"2012","journal-title":"Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract"},{"key":"ref31","first-page":"79","volume-title":"Lameness of dairy cattle: consequences and causes","author":"Shearer","year":"1997"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2007-0496","article-title":"Evaluation of a lameness scoring system for dairy cows","volume":"91","author":"Thomsen","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1002\/9781118280249","volume-title":"Veterinary Epidemiology. 4th edition","author":"Thrusfield","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"86","DOI":"10.5829\/idosi.wjas.2019.86.92","article-title":"Dairy cattle husbandry practices in selected urban and peri-urban milk shed areas of north Shoa zone, Ethiopia","volume":"15","author":"Lakew","year":"2019","journal-title":"World J Agric Sci"},{"key":"ref35","first-page":"55","article-title":"D\u00e9termination de l\u2019\u00e2ge des bovins par l\u2019examen de la dentition. M\u00e9thodologie et principaux r\u00e9sultats acquis en milieu villageois dans le Nord de la C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire","volume-title":"Rev. Elev. M\u00e9d. v\u00e9t. Pays trop.","author":"Poivey","year":"1981"},{"key":"ref36","volume-title":"A guide to condition scoring of zebu cattle","author":"Nicholson","year":"1986"},{"key":"ref37","volume-title":"R: a language and environment for statistical computing","year":"2024"},{"key":"ref38","volume-title":"epiR: Tools for the Analysis of Epidemiological Data. R package version 2.0.81","author":"Stevenson","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.18637\/jss.v067.i01","article-title":"Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4","volume":"67","author":"Bates","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Stat Softw"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2018.00065","article-title":"A cross-sectional study into the prevalence of dairy cattle lameness and associated herd-level risk factors in England and Wales","volume":"5","author":"Griffiths","year":"2018","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3139","DOI":"10.21105\/joss.03139","article-title":"Performance: an R package for assessment, comparison and testing of statistical models","volume":"6","author":"L\u00fcdecke","year":"2021","journal-title":"J Open Source Softw"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2017.06.004","article-title":"Prevalence and risk factors for transition period diseases in grazing dairy cows in Brazil","volume":"145","author":"Daros","year":"2017","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105163","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2020.105163","article-title":"Cow-and herd-level factors associated with lameness in dairy farms in peninsular Malaysia","volume":"184","author":"Sadiq","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"ref44","first-page":"254","article-title":"Lameness as a disease of intensification in dairy cattle under urban and peri-urban production system in the Addis Ababa milk shed","volume-title":"Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa","author":"Lobago","year":"2001"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"213","DOI":"10.1016\/0167-5877(94)00411-B","article-title":"Lameness in Danish dairy cows: frequency and possible risk factors","volume":"22","author":"Alban","year":"1995","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"ref46","volume-title":"Epidemiological investigation of lameness in selected dairy farms of Sululta town, Central Ethiopia","author":"Mulatu","year":"2018"},{"key":"ref47","volume-title":"Epidemiology of lameness in extensive and sem-intensive dairy farms in Adama town, Central Oromia, Ethiopia","author":"Kabeba","year":"2017"},{"key":"ref48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s13104-018-3347-0","article-title":"A cross-sectional survey and follow up study on major dairy health problems in large and small scale urban farms in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia","volume":"11","author":"Tedla","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Res Notes"},{"key":"ref49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.4172\/2157-7579.1000483","article-title":"Major production problems of dairy cows of different farm scales located in the capital city Addis Ababa, Ethiopia","volume":"8","author":"Tolera","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Vet Sci Technol"},{"key":"ref50","volume-title":"Description and treatment of claw lesions and diseases in cattle. Proceedings of Australia and New Zealand combined dairy veterinarians conference published by veterinary continuing education","author":"Vermunt","year":"2003"},{"key":"ref51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"932","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2009-2309","article-title":"Assessment of lameness prevalence and associated risk factors in dairy herds in England and Wales","volume":"93","author":"Barker","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2732333","DOI":"10.1155\/2024\/2732333","article-title":"Prevalence of lameness in dairy cows and associated risk factors at Hawassa town dairy farms, Ethiopia","volume":"2024","author":"Gessese","year":"2024","journal-title":"Vet Med Int"},{"key":"ref53","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"126","DOI":"10.3923\/ijds.2015.126.133","article-title":"Productive and reproductive performance of Holstein-Friesian cows under farmer\u2019s management in Hossana town, Ethiopia","volume":"10","author":"Kebede","year":"2015","journal-title":"Int J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"247","DOI":"10.1016\/S0167-5877(02)00018-1","article-title":"Prevalence and interrelationships of hoof lesions and lameness in Swedish dairy cows","volume":"54","author":"Manske","year":"2002","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"ref55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"576","DOI":"10.1136\/vr.117.22.576","article-title":"Effects of stage of lactation, month, age, origin and heart girth on lameness in dairy cattle","volume":"117","author":"Rowlands","year":"1985","journal-title":"Vet Rec"},{"key":"ref56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"360","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tvjl.2007.09.016","article-title":"The influence of the environment on dairy cow behavior, claw health and herd lameness dynamics","volume":"179","author":"Cook","year":"2009","journal-title":"Vet J"},{"key":"ref57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3175","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2008-1827","article-title":"Lameness in dairy cattle: a debilitating disease or a disease of debilitated cattle? A cross-sectional study of lameness prevalence and thickness of the digital cushion","volume":"92","author":"Bicalho","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9439","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2018-14674","article-title":"Claw horn lesions in mid-lactation primiparous dairy cows under pasture-based systems: association with behavioral and metabolic changes around calving","volume":"101","author":"Sep\u00falveda-Varas","year":"2018","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4745","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2016-12012","article-title":"A prospective cohort study of digital cushion and corium thickness. Part 1: associations with body condition, lesion incidence, and proximity to calving","volume":"100","author":"Newsome","year":"2017","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"440","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2020.00440","article-title":"A prospective cohort study on the development of claw horn disruption lesions in dairy cattle; furthering our understanding of the role of the digital cushion","volume":"7","author":"Griffiths","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3052","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(06)72579-6","article-title":"Prevalence of lameness in high-producing Holstein cows housed in freestall barns in Minnesota","volume":"89","author":"Espejo","year":"2006","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2250","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.S0022-0302(02)74304-X","article-title":"The impact of clinical lameness on the milk yield of dairy cows","volume":"85","author":"Green","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/j.prevetmed.2013.10.009","article-title":"Temporal associations between low body condition, lameness and milk yield in a UK dairy herd","volume":"113","author":"Green","year":"2014","journal-title":"Prev Vet Med"},{"key":"ref64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"11414","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2019-16741","article-title":"Lameness during the dry period: epidemiology and associated factors","volume":"102","author":"Daros","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"},{"key":"ref65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5476","DOI":"10.3168\/jds.2009-2288","article-title":"Risk factors for lameness in freestall-housed dairy cows across two breeds, farming systems, and countries","volume":"92","author":"Dippel","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Dairy Sci"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2025.1456527\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]],"date-time":"2025-04-28T10:04:05Z","timestamp":1745834645000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2025.1456527\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]]},"references-count":65,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2025.1456527"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2025.1456527","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,28]]},"article-number":"1456527"}}