locamotion scoring.

[lazy farmer]

going to get ours independently scored next week.partly for farm assurance partly for "farmer blindness" and partly to give us a benchmark as to where we are for the future.

my question lies around interpretation of the results.Obviously we are aiming for 100% 0s and 1s as a medium term goal but in the mean time what benchmarks should we be using to clarify our results? would there be any supermarket suppliers on here whom would be happy to share the parameters they work to ?

many thanks
lazy

 

[Homesy]

Went to a meeting a couple of years ago ran by DHHPS. National average was 23% at 2/3 at any one time. Scoring was pretty strict. The vet said he had never scored a herd with 100% at 0/1.

 

[Rossymons]

90% in 0 or 1.

It's the cows in category 2 that I targeted hardest as they have the chance to become either 1 or 3 very quickly. If they're 3 you've had it.

I've been lax and not done it as often as I should have and I'm seeing the difference unfortunately.

 

[jimmer]

5 percent or under , 2 and 3 scoring cows

 

[Jamer]

We are aligned and 1/4ly score independently and generally run in the 2-5% score 2s with no score 3s on the days we have scored. Obviously we get occasional 3s but haven't happened to have one on the scoring day in the last 18mths we have had it scored by outside personnel. Pretty happy with the lameness rates but to keep our feet on the ground we have plenty to improve with regards cc, mastitis, fertility........etc

 

[jerseycowsman]

Is locomotion scoring purely for benchmarking and farm assurance to beat us?
When I see a lame cow, I treat her, I don't need locomotion scoring for that. I'm not trying to sound smart or whatever, just not keen on being bossed around by "experts" all the time

 

[Jamer]

Is locomotion scoring purely for benchmarking and farm assurance to beat us?
When I see a lame cow, I treat her, I don't need locomotion scoring for that. I'm not trying to sound smart or whatever, just not keen on being bossed around by "experts" all the time

I concur, however there is a lot of lameness myopia in the industry and locomotion scoring is being used as a tool to get producers to grasp the nettle. You can see from the retailers point of view they do not want the general public watching lame cows cross the road in front of them while the farm gate has a sign displaying they proudly supply whichever retailer/processor.

As you so rightly point out the key is to deal with lame cows asap and work to prevent but sadly there are plenty who think a shot of pen strep is all that's needed until the foot trimmer turns up in 3 weeks.

 

[jimmer]

KNIFE BEFORE NEEDLE

 

[jerseycowsman]

KNIFE BEFORE NEEDLE

Exactly, how is a needle going to help a sole ulcer or white line or just general overgrowth?

 

[lazy farmer]

Scored this afternoon
82% 0

8%. 1

9% 2

1% 3

Work to do

 

[Beef farmer]

Scored this afternoon
82% 0

8%. 1

9% 2

1% 3

Work to do

If you had to score them in what % would you have felt youd have had in 2 and 3

 

[lazy farmer]

Probably 10 more 2s than I would have expected.

 

[jimmer]

regardless of your reservations or not , make sure the same person scores them next time

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Anyone have a link on how to locomotion score cows?

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Anyone have a link on how to locomotion score cows?

Plenty on YouTube, The UK ones are the DairyCo videos and the DairyNZ are obviously the foreign ones.

 

[Dead Rabbits]

Plenty on YouTube, The UK ones are the DairyCo videos and the DairyNZ are obviously the foreign ones.

Oh. Long way to go here yet

 

[upnortheast]

Anyone have a link on how to locomotion score cows?

Info on the yellow band on right of page

https://dairy.ahdb.org.uk/technical...dry-prevention/mobility-scoring/#.W3PyeWcfYlM

 

[Sandpit Farm]

Is locomotion scoring purely for benchmarking and farm assurance to beat us?
When I see a lame cow, I treat her, I don't need locomotion scoring for that. I'm not trying to sound smart or whatever, just not keen on being bossed around by "experts" all the time

Totally understand, but what is a lame cow? 'Lame' is the wrong term really because by the time they are 'lame', the damage is done. It is those score '1's and '2's that need dealing with quickly. There is a suggestion in the research that lame cows are predisposed to being lame forever so if you can sort/remodel the foot before they get a mechanical problem like an ulcer, it prevents trauma to the delicate cells that produce the horn at the 'quick'. Cows have fat pads in their feet, low BCS cows are more likely to get lame and lame cows are more likely to have a BCS problem so it is a slippery slope.

Believe it or not, farmers are apathetic!

 

[jerseycowsman]

Totally understand, but what is a lame cow? 'Lame' is the wrong term really because by the time they are 'lame', the damage is done. It is those score '1's and '2's that need dealing with quickly. There is a suggestion in the research that lame cows are predisposed to being lame forever so if you can sort/remodel the foot before they get a mechanical problem like an ulcer, it prevents trauma to the delicate cells that produce the horn at the 'quick'. Cows have fat pads in their feet, low BCS cows are more likely to get lame and lame cows are more likely to have a BCS problem so it is a slippery slope.

Believe it or not, farmers are apathetic!

Yeah, I can see that!
Sole ulcers isn't a problem for us though, I would say we are 75-80% white line, 10-15% foul, 5% general overgrown and and maybe a couple of sole ulcers a year.
Ours are walking up to 3 miles a day, so that's where the white line comes from. Locomotion scoring isn't going to help that. I can see a place for it on housed units, but why we all have to be forced down the same route, I don't know

 

[lazy farmer]

Scored this afternoon
82% 0

8%. 1

9% 2

1% 3

Work to do

had a follow up scoring 6 weeks after the initial visit today.
we had
90% 0

3 % 1

6% 2

1 % 3
some progress.
I have been using the 30 mins saved during the morning milking to trim feet so my day hasn't got any longer. But it does mean I have been doing 2hrs 30 mins trimming a week where as before it may have been an hour or so. I am hoping I will get to the point where the time required will soon drop off.
I have to say I have found the process of independent scoring very motivating but I realise we are all different.