Visual Locomotion Scoring in the First Seventy Days in Milk: Impact on Pregnancy and Survival

Proportion of cows detected with visual locomotion score (VLS) ≥3 (black bars) and cows detected with VLS ≥4 (gray bars) by farm, in the first 70 DIM.

Proportion of cows detected with visual locomotion score (VLS) ≥3 (black bars) and cows detected with VLS ≥4 (gray bars) by parity, in the first 70 DIM. The numbers above the bars represent the total number of cows per parity. Cows with parity ≥5 were grouped into category 5. A strong increase in the occurrence of lameness was detected as parity increased (P<0.001).

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis plot for calving-to-conception interval. Cows that were detected with visual locomotion score (VLS) ≥3 (gray line) in the first 70 DIM had a median calving-to-conception interval of 149 d compared with 119 d for the cows that maintained VLS ≤2 (black line; P<0.001). When lameness was redefined as VLS ≥4 in the first 70 DIM, lame cows had a calving-to-conception interval of 158 d compared with 127 d for nonlame cows (P<0.001). The straight marks in the curves represent time at censoring.

Kaplan-Meier survival analysis plot for survival interval (calving to culling/death interval). Cows that were detected with visual locomotion score (VLS) ≥3 (gray line) in the first 70 DIM were at a higher hazard of culling/death when compared with cows that maintained VLS ≤2 (black line) for the first 70 DIM (hazard ratio=0.44 95%, confidence interval=0.32 – 0.57; P<0.001). Median survival days is not available because by the end of data collection both groups still had more than 50% of live cows. The straight marks in the curves represent time at censoring.