study of lameness incidence in holstein cows using gait scoring method and its relation with animal production, parity and body condition score

397 holstein dairy cows were used to determine locomotion score, lameness prevalence and its relationship with age of the animal and body condition score (bcs). locomotion score was determined using seven gait properties of animal. the results showed that more than 56% of cows in the herd had no locomotion problems. more than 40% of cows were placed in the group of suspected subclinical lameness and about 3.5% of the cows showed obvious clinical signs of lameness evident. moreover increasing age or parity has increased the probability of lameness incidence. primiparous and second parity of cows showed the lowest incidence of clinical and subclinical lameness. however frequency of prevalence of clinical and subclinical lameness increased significantly in older cows (greater than 2 lactations) (p<0.01). primiparous and second parities of cows showed significant difference in the incidence of lameness with control group (p<0.01). locomotion score was significantly different between the groups in terms of production (p<0.01). the cows with low bcs had the highest clinical and subclinical lameness, although body condition score had no significant effect on the locomotion score.