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The standard method for monitoring lameness in U.K. dairy herds is mobility scoring. Data from mobility scoring can be used to estimate the proportion of cows in the herd that are lame (prevalence), the rate at which cows become lame (incidence), and how long cows remain lame (duration). It is unknown how the frequency and accuracy of mobility scoring impact the accuracy of measurement of these parameters. We developed a model to simulate lameness in a range of herd scenarios with different prevalences and durations of lameness. We used this model to understand how the frequency and accuracy of mobility scoring affected the accuracy of lameness parameters calculated from mobility scoring data. Our results showed that reduced accuracy of mobility scoring results in an over-estimation of lameness incidence and an under-estimation of lameness duration. This effect increased with more frequent scoring. Lameness prevalence and the average number of days to first lameness best identified lameness patterns when simulating monthly mobility scoring. We conclude that the frequency and accuracy of mobility scoring should be considered when using mobility scoring data to inform on lameness patterns on farms.

Mobility scoring data can be used to estimate the prevalence, incidence, and duration of lameness in dairy herds. Mobility scoring is often performed infrequently with variable sensitivity, but how this impacts the estimation of lameness parameters is largely unknown. We developed a simulation model to investigate the impact of the frequency and accuracy of mobility …