Descriptive evaluation of a camera-based dairy cattle lameness detection technology

Abstract

Lameness in dairy cattle is not a disease but a clinical sign of im­paired locomotion, with the main causative agents being painful foot lesions. Lameness compromises economic, environmental, and social sustainability goals of the U.S. dairy industry. Com­bining technology and farm data may be a more precise and less labor-intensive tool for lameness detection, particularly with regard to early detection. The study objective was to describe the association between average weekly autonomous camera-based (AUTO) mobility scores and cows with lesion (LAME) and with­out lesions (TRIM) to see if this technology can detect lameness occurrence earlier.