Bulls with good locomotion scores cut lameness

With the UK dairy industry facing a lameness rate of 30%, selecting bulls with good locomotion scores should be a top priority.

The first step in avoiding lameness is to breed the right type of cow, says Hugh Pockock of Cogent. “When foot and leg structure is not right, you will be fighting an uphill battle from the start.”

With increasing pressures to improve animal welfare and farm profitability, every breeder should pay close attention to bull linear profiles. “Any bull that does not have positive figures for locomotion or feet and legs should be discarded,” Mr Pockock continues.

“Recent evidence demonstrates locomotion is highly correlated with cow lifespan, clearly indicating it has a large part to play in reducing replacement rates and increasing herd profitability.”

Choosing sires with good locomotion scores will play an important role in producing trouble free cows capable of lasting.

“Dairy farmers have always wanted easy-care cows that don’t tend to go lame, and I would urge them to use the Locomotion Index on a bull’s linear profile as an important tool in achieving this goal,” Mr Pockock concludes.