It has long been assumed that skinny cows are a result of lameness. This article argues that in fact lameness is a result of skinny cows. When a cow reduces its body size, especially after calving when its fat reserves are used to produce milk, a shock absorber in the cows hoof called the ‘digital cushion’ becomes smaller. A smaller ‘digital cushion’ in a cows hoof can’t absorb shock like it should when it is normal sized, therefore more pain is caused in the cows feet and there is an increased chance of lameness.