The use of infrared thermography for diagnosing limb disorders in dairy cattle

Limb disorders in dairy cattle, along with mastitis and reproductive disorders, are among the most serious health problems in dairy farming. They negatively affect animal welfare, reduce milk yield and cause substantial economic losses for farmers. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as visual locomotion scoring and hoof trimming, are limited by subjectivity, infrequent use and low effectiveness in detecting early stages of disease. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of infrared thermography as a tool to support the diagnosis of diseases and monitor lameness in dairy cattle. This method is based on recording infrared radiation emitted from the body surface and allows for the detection of inflammatory changes by evaluating temperature asymmetry and increases around the hooves and limbs. The aim of this review is to evaluate the suitability of infrared thermography as a modern, non-invasive tool for supporting the early detection of hoof diseases and locomotion disorders in dairy cattle under farm conditions.