Technical
Locomotion Scoring in Dairy Cattle: A Tool for Hoof Health Monitoring
What Is Locomotion Scoring?
Locomotion scoring is a standardized method for assessing the degree of lameness in dairy cattle by observing the cow's gait and back posture as she walks. It provides a herd-level metric for lameness prevalence and helps track whether hoof health interventions — including footbath programs — are making a measurable difference.
The most widely used locomotion scoring system uses a 1–5 scale:
| Score | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Normal: walks freely with a level, fluid back line |
| 2 | Mildly lame: slight arching of the back when standing or walking |
| 3 | Moderately lame: marked arching of back, shortened stride, head bobbing |
| 4 | Lame: reluctant to bear weight on one limb, slow, deliberate movement |
| 5 | Severely lame: refuses to bear weight on one limb, may refuse to move |
How to Conduct a Locomotion Scoring Session
Score cows as they exit the milking parlor — they are moving in a consistent direction on a relatively flat surface, making gait observation reliable. Score individually, not in groups.
Minimum recommended herd monitoring: score the entire milking herd at quarterly intervals. Record results by individual cow ID if possible, or at minimum as herd-level counts at each score.
Benchmark targets:
- Less than 15% of the herd at locomotion score 3 or above is an achievable target in well-managed commercial herds
- Greater than 25% at score 3+ indicates a significant lameness problem requiring investigation of housing, feeding, and hoof hygiene
Using Locomotion Scoring to Evaluate Footbath Programs
A footbath program targeting digital dermatitis should reduce the prevalence of locomotion scores 3–5 over time as lesion burden decreases. Tracking quarterly locomotion scores before and after implementing a structured footbath program with Anderma Hoof Liquid, Pescande, or Prodin provides objective evidence of program effectiveness.
If locomotion scores do not improve after 2–3 months of consistent footbath use, the cause of lameness may be claw lesions (white line disease, sole ulcers) rather than infectious hoof disease, or the footbath is not reaching all cows with adequate frequency.
Contact AgroLyne for footbath product guidance linked to your locomotion scoring data.