Use locomotion scoring to recognize lame cows sooner, decrease lameness severity and add milk to your bulk tank. It doesn't take a genius to recognize a lame cow. She's the one with the limp, right? Although that's the detection system many producers use to identify lame cows in their herd, you can do better. A tool called locomotion scoring can help you recognize lame cows long before they limp. And since lameness takes a significant toll on production, reproduction and farm balance sheets, catching it early is critical to your bottom line. Locomotion scoring is a five-point scale developed by researchers to perceive changes in how a cow walks and stands -- which provide clues to a cow's lameness starts. These quick-and-easy cues help identify cows that have developed lameness issues, but may not yet show any physical signs of lameness. The tool is easy to use and is something to add to your management toolbox. (To learn how to use locomotion scoring, please see "How to become a cow motion detector" in the August issue of Dairy Herd Management.)
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