Lameness scoring systems for cattle, sheep and pigs provide objective welfare assessments that enable earlier intervention and drive farm management improvements.
Lameness causes chronic, often severe pain in affected animals. The high prevalence on many farms - far exceeding welfare targets - indicates widespread undertreated pain. Systematic lameness scoring provides the data to identify trends, compare to benchmarks and drive improvement. Without regular scoring, lame animals may go untreated for weeks or months. Welfare assurance schemes that include lameness scoring requirements and defined prevalence thresholds create accountability and drive improvement in this important welfare area.