Table 1.
Animal and stall-based parameter definitions used for scoring the 317 Ontario tie-stall study farms
| Parameter | Definition |
|---|---|
| Back arch 0 | No arch is seen in the back while standing |
| Back arch 1 | An arch is seen in the back while standing |
| Hind claw 0 | No rotation of the hind claw |
| Hind claw 1 | Hind claw rotated outward more than 20 degrees from the cow’s midline |
| Hind limb 0 | No manure on hind leg from claw to hock |
| Hind limb 1 | Manure is seen only on the dewclaw |
| Hind limb 2 | Manure is seen from dewclaw to shank |
| Hind limb 3 | Manure is seen from dewclaw up to or over hock joint |
| Hock 0 | No hair loss broken skin or scabs |
| Hock 1 | Hock is swollen with no hair loss, broken skin, or scabs |
| Hock 2 | Hock has hair loss with or without swelling |
| Hock 3 | Hock has broken skin or scabs with or without swelling |
| Neck 0 | No hair loss, broken skin, or scabs visible |
| Neck 1 | The neck has visible hair loss, broken skin, or scabs |
| Teat 0 | No visible injury to the teat |
| Teat 1 | Visible injury to the teat |
| Udder 0 | No manure visible on udder |
| Udder 1 | Slight amount of manure visible on udder |
| Udder 2 | Significant amount of manure visible on udder |
| Tail 0 | Tail is not docked or broken |
| Tail 1 | Tail has a deviation in the vertebrae from a previous or recent break |
| Tail 2 | Tail is docked |
| Stall length | From inside (stall bed side) of manager curb to inside of gutter curb |
| Stall width | Between the stall dividers on their center |
| Chain length | From snap at cow collar to tie rail |
| Tie-rail height | From stall bed to underside of tie rail |