Locomotion Scoring for Livestock Welfare

Locomotion scoring systems allow farmers to systematically assess lameness prevalence in cattle and pigs, enabling early intervention and welfare monitoring at herd level.

Key Facts

The AHDB locomotion scoring system uses a 1-5 scale from normal to severely lame
Locomotion scoring of 20% of a dairy herd per week gives a reliable welfare snapshot
Scores of 3 or above indicate pain and require prompt investigation and treatment
Regular locomotion scoring predicts disease risk and allows preventive intervention
Herd locomotion score data is increasingly used in farm assurance audits as a welfare indicator

Welfare Considerations

Systematic locomotion scoring transforms lameness from a problem noticed only when severe to a monitored welfare indicator that enables early intervention. A cow scoring 3 on the locomotion scale — showing clear arching of the back and shortened stride — is in pain that will worsen without treatment. Regular scoring catches these animals before they deteriorate to the point of 4 or 5. At herd level, locomotion score data reveals housing, nutrition, or management problems that are causing lameness across multiple animals, enabling systemic rather than purely individual responses. Farms with good locomotion scoring programmes consistently achieve lower lameness prevalence.

What You Can Do

Advocate for regular locomotion scoring as a standard requirement in dairy welfare standards
Support farmer training in validated locomotion scoring methods
Choose dairy products from farms that publish locomotion score data
Donate to organisations developing digital locomotion monitoring tools
Encourage your veterinarian to include locomotion assessment in routine farm health visits