Body condition scoring of sheep: intra- and inter-observer variability

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dc.citation.volume80
dc.contributor.authorCorner-Thomas R
dc.contributor.authorSewell AM
dc.contributor.authorKemp P
dc.contributor.authorWood BA
dc.contributor.authorGray DI
dc.contributor.authorMorris ST
dc.contributor.authorBlair HT
dc.contributor.authorKenyon PR
dc.date.available2020
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractBody condition scoring (BCS) is a hands-on tool that farmers can use to make decisions about their animal feeding and management. BCS, however, is a subjective measure of the muscle and fat cover of the lumbar spine. Observers, therefore, may show variability in scores both across time and from other observers. This study aimed to determine the intra- and inter-observer variation of both farmers and research technicians as part of a learning exercise of a farmer-learning group based at Massey University between 2011 and 2015. Nineteen farmers and three research technicians condition scored 45 mixed-age ewes on two consecutive days. Data from both farmers and technicians were analysed to determine the intra- and inter-observer variability using a weighted kappa. The results indicate that the majority of farmers and technicians had ‘excellent’ agreement (21 of the 22 observers had kappa values greater than 0.75) between days. Similarly, among pairs of observers the agreement was also ‘excellent’ (212 of 231 comparisons had kappa values greater than 0.75). The distribution of scores that contributed to each median condition score, however, indicated that lower scores (1, 1.5 and 2) has less variability than did higher scores (2.5 or greater). These results suggest that BCS is a robust farm-management tool that can be used with a high degree of repeatability. Keywords: body condition scoring; intra-observer variability, inter-observer variability.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.format.extent107 - 112 (6)
dc.identifier.citationNew Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production, 2020, 80 pp. 107 - 112 (6)
dc.identifier.elements-id445198
dc.identifier.harvestedMassey_Dark
dc.publisherNew Zealand Society of Animal Production (INC)
dc.relation.isPartOfNew Zealand Journal of Animal Science and Production
dc.rightsThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
dc.subjectbody condition scoring
dc.subjectintra observer variability
dc.subjectinter observer variability
dc.titleBody condition scoring of sheep: intra- and inter-observer variability
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.notesNot known
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Humanities and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Humanities and Social Sciences/Institute of Education
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences/PVC's Office - College of Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Sciences/School of Agriculture & Environment
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