To estimate the index, the “expert” observes the gait of each animal and, depending on the difference between the kinematic pattern and the normal state, ranks it on the corresponding numerical scale. However, the use of this scale is a subjective method of detection, which lacks reliability, especially when the observation is made by breeders who lack specialized knowledge, with the result that most of the time the problem of lameness is underestimated and it is not detected in time, so that it can be treated immediately. This can be avoided by using a reliable system for recognizing the symptoms of lameness in cattle.

The implementation stages of the project include the design of the pilot applications, the recording and study of the kinesiological pattern of three groups of animals (healthy, lameness at the beginning and lameness at an advanced stage), their nutrition, health, estrus and births, parameters that influence and affected by lameness, adapting the system and finally validating the system on a fourth group of randomly sampled animals.

After the end of the project, the system will be able to be easily applied in each unit in order to successfully identify animals with lameness, and will be for the breeder a low-cost, reliable and accurate method of identifying the condition at an early stage, significantly reducing the financial impact for the production unit.