Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Welfare and Lameness Scoring Systems

Lameness scoring using validated systems enables objective, consistent assessment of cattle gait and welfare. Regular scoring identifies lame cows for treatment before severe deterioration.

Key Facts

Lameness affects approximately 25% of UK dairy cows at any one time
The AHDB mobility scoring system uses a 0-3 scale validated against lesion severity
Herd-level mobility scoring enables identification of systemic management problems
Locomotion scoring identifies approximately 50% more lame cows than farmer observation alone
Digital dermatitis, sole ulcers and white line disease are the most common lameness causes in dairy cows

Welfare Considerations

Lameness causes significant chronic pain in enormous numbers of dairy cows. Regular mobility scoring enables early identification and treatment, preventing the progression from mild to severe lameness.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory mobility scoring in dairy farm welfare certification
Support AHDB mobility scoring training programmes for dairy farmers
Choose dairy products from farms with documented low lameness prevalence