Summary
This narrative review examines automated mobility scoring and lameness detection systems currently available in the UK dairy sector, comparing camera-based, wearable, and radar sensor technologies. The authors assess the quality of validation evidence for each system, ranging from large-scale commercial farm studies with robust ground truth data to company proof-of-concept work, and highlight the importance of selecting systems based on farm-specific needs and strength of evidence. The review positions automation as an increasingly practical tool for lameness management, provided system choice is informed by validated performance data and integration with on-farm decision-making processes.
Regional applicability
This review is directly applicable to United Kingdom dairy farming practice, as it specifically examines systems currently marketed in the UK. The findings and recommendations are immediately relevant to UK farm decision-makers and policy bodies concerned with dairy cow welfare and productivity, though transferability to other temperate dairy regions would depend on system availability and farm infrastructure differences.
Key measures
System type and technology platform; validation methodology (human scorers, lesion records, intervention trials); performance accuracy; output types generated by each system
Outcomes reported
The paper reviews automated systems currently marketed in the UK for mobility scoring and lameness detection, examining camera-based systems, wearables, and radar sensor technologies. It assesses the validation evidence, performance accuracy reporting, and practical application of these systems on commercial farms.
Topic tags
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