DairyCo

DairyCo mobility score

In 2007 concern was raised at the number of  widely different 'locomotion scores' that were being used to assess lameness on dairy farms in the UK. This led to considerable confusion among farmers and the wider industry.

As a result, DairyCo set about trying to pull together a cross industry meeting. In September 2007, a cross industry group of vets, consultants, academics, foot trimmers, farmers, milk buyers and other industry representatives met at Nottinghamn University to discuss both the systems and the nomenclature for scoring lameness on farm.

The meeting sparked constructive debate and identified a major source of confusion for farmers; namely the use of the term "locomotion score", which Holstein UK has been using since 1998 for linear assessment of gait aimed at confirmation and breed improvement. Along with this there were several different scoring systems in use within the term "locomotion scoring", each with different score criteria.

As a consequence, alternative nomenclature was discussed. The term "lameness scoring" proved unpopular among farmers and others in the industry, and so "mobility score" was proposed as an alternative.

Subsequent consultation of farmers conducted by DairyCo, resulted in the "DairyCo Mobility Score" because it was agreed that DairyCo is independent and is the right organisation to address this issue on the industry's behalf.

The DairyCo Mobility Score has four points, broadly reflecting the typical actions that farmers take when assessing cows for lameness treatment and uses simple, yet reliable, descriptors. It is based on a system used by a number of research groups for nearly a decade.

The score has been tested for repeatability and has performed as well as other scores in research. Crucially, the "mobility score" has been well received by farmers, who now perceive they are working towards a positive goal, that is, better herd mobility.

Moving forward this will deliver a clear and consistent message to the industry and will also, from a research point of view, provide potentially large quantities of comparable data, helping us better understand and tackle this serious health and welfare problem. Vet Record summised that although reaching this solution was problematic, they believed the solution outlined above represents a pragmatic cross industry concensus, and they recommended that vets utilise it.