Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Mobility Scoring and Welfare Monitoring

Mobility scoring provides an objective welfare monitoring tool for dairy cattle that enables early detection and treatment of lameness.

Key Facts

Mobility scoring uses a 0-3 scale from normal to severely lame
Herds with more than 10-15% scoring 2 or 3 are considered to have a welfare problem
Monthly mobility scoring identifies trends allowing proactive management
Lame cows often improve significantly with prompt treatment
Digital scoring apps enable consistent scoring and data analysis

Welfare Considerations

Mobility scoring transforms lameness management from a reactive response to severe lameness into a proactive system that detects early problems. Cows identified at score 2 - showing some gait abnormality - can be treated before reaching the severe pain of score 3. Regular scoring is one of the most impactful welfare monitoring tools available for dairy farms.

What You Can Do

Advocate for regular mobility scoring as a welfare audit requirement
Support mobility scoring training for dairy farm staff
Learn about mobility scoring to engage with dairy welfare discussions