Mobility scoring: How to score your cows

Regularly scoring your cows for mobility is the first step towards reducing lameness in your herd.

Mobility scoring is based on a scale from 0 to 3, with 0 being good mobility and 3 being severely impaired mobility. 

Description of cow behaviour:

• Walks with even weight-bearing and rhythm on all four feet, with a flat back
• Able to take long, fluid strides

Suggested actions:

• Routine (preventative) foot-trimming when/if required
• Record mobility at next scoring session

Description of cow behaviour:

• Uneven steps in rhythm or weight-bearing
• Shortened strides
• The affected limb is not immediately or consistently obvious

Suggested actions:

• Monitor the cow closely
• Carry out a foot inspection when required
• Further observation recommended

Description of cow behaviour:

• Uneven weight-bearing on a limb that is immediately and consistently identifiable and/or obviously shortened strides (possibly with an arch to the centre of the back)
• Signs used to identify affected limbs include:
  • Uneven dewclaw descent
  • Uneven rhythm of strides
  • Uneven leg speed
  • Shortened strides
  • Head nodding or bobbing
  • Lowered head carriage

Suggested actions:

• Cow is lame and needs prompt examination and treatment
• Lift the foot to check for lesions before treatment
• New cases should be treated within 48 hours

Description of cow behaviour:

• These cows have an identifiable uneven weight-bearing and their normal walking speed is slower
• Unable to walk as fast as the most mobile cow in the herd
• Identifying a painful limb may be difficult if multiple limbs are affected
• The cow is likely to fall behind or stop to rest over longer distances

Suggested actions:

• Urgent attention, nursing and professional advice required
• Examine as soon as possible
• Cow will benefit from treatment
• Avoid making the cow walk far
• Keep on a straw yard or at grass
• In severe or chronic cases with a poor prognosis from a vet, culling may be the only option

If you haven’t scored your herd for a while, information and film clips are available on our YouTube channel.

For best results:

• Check your herd at least once every two weeks for screening
• Record scores once a month
• Choose a time and a place to observe cows, ideally on a hard (i.e. concrete) non-slip surface
• Monitor each cow individually, allowing them to make 6–10 uninterrupted strides
• Watch the cow from the side and the rear, and, if possible, make sure the cow turns a corner as part of her test

Record the identities of all cows and their mobility scores. When it’s challenging to record all cows, focus on recording the identities of score 2 or 3 cows and schedule treatment within 48 hours for new score 2 cows and immediately for new score 3 cows.

In these instances, keep a tally of cows that are score 0 and 1, or verify the number of cows in each group.

Check regularly to make sure treatment is working. If you’re unsure about a score, repeat your observations. If you’re still unsure, examine her feet.

• Early detection and prompt effective treatment (EDPET) applied consistently and well to every cow improves recovery
• Fewer cows become chronically or severely lame over time
• Mobility trends help identify new problems at an early stage
• Provides figures for benchmarking performance
• Raises awareness of foot health
• Motivates farm staff to improve herd mobility and overall health

We have a range of lameness and mobility resources available to order.

• Mobility scorecard
• Foot lesions of dairy cattle poster
• Hoof care field guide