FEEDLAME

Crédit photos : Anne Relun

Crédit photos : Carole Toczé

Crédit photos : Zina Braux

Researchers and staff involved

Dr. Anne Relun (BIOEPAR) anne.relun@oniris-nantes.fr

Dr. Aurore Duvauchelle-Waché (Idele) ; Dr. Raphaël Guatteo (BIOEPAR) ; Dr. Sarah Ishak (Idele) ; Anne Lehébel (BIOEPAR) ; Nadine Brisseau (BIOEPAR) ; Dr. Marie Drouet (Idele) ; Guillaume Morgant (BIOEPAR)

Status

Completed in December 2025

Why focus on lameness in young beef cattle?

Lameness is an important health, welfare and performance issue in young beef cattle finishing systems. However, data on its prevalence, causes and effective control measures in these animals remain limited. Monitoring animals can be particularly challenging because of housing conditions and limited opportunities for safe and appropriate restraint. In addition, current recommendations are largely based on knowledge gained from dairy cattle, although young beef cattle have different characteristics and are raised under different conditions.

Project objectives

The objectives of the project were to:

- Estimate the prevalence and describe the severity and location of hoof lesions associated with lameness in young beef cattle in France

- Explore factors that may contribute to the development of these lesions

- Assess the associations between hoof lesions and production performance (carcase characteristics, age at slaughter, etc.)

- Assess farmers’ perceptions of lameness in young beef cattle and identify their current practices, expectations, and barriers and opportunities for lameness control

How was the project conducted?

Understanding the perceptions of farmers and advisers

Surveys were conducted among farmers and their advisers (farm technicians and veterinarians) to better understand their perceptions of lameness, current practices, expectations, and barriers to its control. In total, 98 farmers and 35 advisers took part in the study.

Describing hoof lesions and identifying associated risk factors

All four feet of 2,102 young beef cattle were examined after slaughter. Hoof lesions were recorded, and their associations with animal characteristics, lifetime rearing conditions and performance at slaughter were investigated.

Key findings

97%

of young beef cattle had at least one hoof lesion

35%

had at least one painful lesion

50%

of batches were affected by digital dermatitis

1. Hoof lesions are very common in young beef cattle and do not always resemble those seen in dairy cattle

97% of young beef cattle had at least one hoof lesion and 35% had at least one painful lesion. Digital dermatitis and white line disease were among the main painful lesions observed. In contrast, foot rot and sole ulcers were rare. Digital dermatitis was present in 50% of the batches examined.

Bruises and heel erosions were also very common, and occurred more frequently than is usually reported in dairy cattle. Digital dermatitis also showed a different anatomical distribution from that classically described in dairy cattle. Detection and monitoring methods developed for dairy cattle should therefore be adapted to young beef cattle to avoid underestimating some lesions.

2. Lameness is recognised as a major issue by farmers and advisers, but its management is constrained by practical challenges

The surveys of 98 farmers and 35 advisers showed that lameness is perceived as a frequent and concerning problem. Its consequences for animal welfare, economic performance, workload and farmers’ well-being were considered important, with an impact comparable to that of infectious respiratory disease. Lack of suitable restraint facilities and lack of time were identified as the main barriers to lameness management. Conversely, improving animal welfare and economic performance were identified as the main drivers for taking action.

3. Insufficient hoof wear may contribute to horn lesions in young beef cattle

The study showed that greater dorsal wall length was associated with several hoof lesions, including corkscrew claws, bruises and white line disease. It was also associated with the presence of digital dermatitis on the dorsal surface of the claw.

These findings suggest that an imbalance between hoof growth and wear may contribute to the development of some lesions, particularly in heavier animals. However, this hypothesis needs to be confirmed through longitudinal and experimental studies.

If confirmed, this could open up new avenues for prevention, including adapting flooring, stimulating movement and considering the optimal duration of the finishing period.

4. Some animal and farm profiles were more frequently associated with hoof lesions

Charolais cattle had more hoof lesions, heavier animals had more horn lesions, and young beef cattle from specialised finishing units had more digital dermatitis.

5. The relationship between hoof lesions and performance is more complex than expected

Some lesions, particularly foot rot and heel ulcers, were associated with poorer performance at slaughter. In contrast, no reduction in performance was observed in animals with digital dermatitis. More surprisingly, some horn lesions were associated with higher carcase weights.

These findings do not allow us to conclude that hoof lesions directly affect performance. The relationship between hoof health, growth, slaughter weight and rearing conditions appears to be more complex and should be investigated through longitudinal studies.

What does this mean for farms?

1. Young beef cattle require a specific approach

Hoof lesions are very common in young beef cattle, and their distribution differs from that observed in dairy cattle. Detection and monitoring methods should therefore be adapted to this category of animals.

2. Digital dermatitis deserves particular attention

Digital dermatitis was found in half of the batches examined, and its location in young beef cattle may differ from that classically observed in dairy cattle. Its frequent location on the dorsal surface of the claw means that it can easily be mistaken for foot rot.

3. Hoof wear is a promising area for further prevention research

Dorsal wall length was associated with several lesions. This suggests that an imbalance between hoof growth and wear may play a role, but on-farm trials are needed before any specific intervention can be recommended.

4. Prevention must take practical farm constraints into account

The surveys showed that lack of time and difficulties with animal restraint are important barriers to lameness management. Any measures proposed should therefore be realistic, simple to implement and compatible with the conditions under which young beef cattle are raised.

What questions remain to be explored?

FEEDLAME provides the first national description of hoof lesions in young beef cattle in France, but several questions remain unanswered:

- Which factors related to housing and management conditions contribute to the development of different lesions?

- What is the actual economic impact of lameness in young beef cattle finishing systems?

- What role do hoof growth and wear play in the development of hoof lesions?

- How can the detection of lame animals and/or animals affected by digital dermatitis be improved under practical young beef cattle farming conditions?

- Which preventive measures — particularly those related to flooring, animal movement, batch management, bedding, nutrition and duration of the finishing period — are effective under practical farm conditions?

- How can pain and hoof lesions be better managed while taking account of the practical constraints faced by farmers?

The FEEDLAME project therefore represents a first step towards developing lameness prevention and management strategies specifically adapted to young beef cattle

Further information

• Scientific publications:

Ishak, S., Guatteo, R., Lehebel, A., Brisseau, N., Drouet, M., Duvauchelle-Waché, A., & Relun, A. (2025). Associations between foot lesions and carcass traits in young bulls reared indoors. Animal, 19(12), 101713. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101713

Ishak, S., Guatteo, R., Entraygues, A.-R., Gall, M., Duvauchelle-Waché, A., & Relun, A. (2025). Apparent prevalence and distribution of foot lesions in finishing French young bulls: A slaughterhouse cross-sectional study. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 241, 106554. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106554

Ishak, S. (2025). Lésions podales chez les jeunes bovins en France : caractéristiques épidémiologiques et associations avec les performances à l’abattage. Ecole nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l’alimentation, Nantes-Atlantique (ONIRIS). https://doi.org/10.70675/9b752d7ez1e27z434dz8646zba0868257380

Gall, M. (2023). Boiteries chez les jeunes bovins à l’engraissement en France : impacts perçus par les éleveurs et prévalence des lésions podales. Faculté de Médecine de Nantes. Retrieved from https://doc-veto.oniris-nantes.fr/GED_CHN/198139191631/N-2023-069.pdf

Dieudonné, C. (2024). Perception des boiteries par les éleveurs en atelier d’engraissement de jeunes bovins. Ecole Supérieure des Agricultures, Angers, France.

Entraygues, A.-R. (2024). Association entre les lésions podales et les performances d’abattage chez les jeunes bovins à l’engraissement en France. Oniris VetAgroBio - École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l’alimentation Nantes-Atlantique. Retrieved from https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-04846714

Bredillat, N. (2026). Longueur de la muraille dorsale des jeunes bovins abattus en France : description et association avec les lésions podales. Oniris VetAgroBio -- École nationale vétérinaire, agroalimentaire et de l’alimentation Nantes-Atlantique.

This project was funded by Carnot France Futur Elevage