No lameness, healthy animal
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The cow moves freely, with its body weight distributed evenly on its four limbs. |
When the cow is standing, the back is straight and its legs and hooves are correctly positioned. |
Normal gait. The back remains straight. |
The head is held stable in line with the back or slightly below it, both at rest and while walking. |
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The cow’s movement is limited, but not greatly. |
The back is straight when the cow is standing. |
The back is slightly arched when the cow walks. The gait is disturbed. Body weight is not evenly distributed on the limbs and the cow may exhibit slight lameness while walking. |
The head may be slightly lowered, briefly or continuously. |
| 3. Moderate lameness |
The cow moves with difficulty, taking short steps (with one or several limbs). |
The cow stands with its back arched and its legs and hooves may be incorrectly positioned. |
Gait is disturbed. The back is arched when the cow walks and it exhibits moderate lameness. |
The head moves up and down during movement. |
| 4. Lameness |
The cow’s movement is limited. It spends more time recumbent. |
The cow stands with its back arched. The limbs are incorrectly positioned. |
The cow walks with a pronounced limp, with its back arched, favouring the affected limb; lameness is clearly evident |
The head moves up and down during movement and is held low at rest. |
| 5. Severe lameness |
The cow’s movement is limited; it stays in a recumbent position and is reluctant to stand up. |
The back is severely arched. The cow is unwilling to stand and to put weight on at least one limb; it may have difficulty getting up from a recumbent position or standing up at all. |
The cow clearly favours the affected limb. The back is arched and the cow moves with difficulty and takes short steps. Severe lameness is evident, and the cow may vocalize. |
The head moves significantly upwards and especially downwards when the cow walks. The head is lowered when the cow is at rest. |
