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Reliability of a subjective lameness scoring system for dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

C Brenninkmeyer ,
S Dippel ,
S March ,
J Brinkmann ,
C Winckler  and
U Knierim
C Brenninkmeyer*
Affiliation:
Department of Farm Animal Behaviour and Husbandry, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstraße 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany
S Dippel
Affiliation:
Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
S March
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Animal Production and Technology, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, Driverstrasse 22, 49377 Vechta, Germany
J Brinkmann
Affiliation:
Research Centre for Animal Production and Technology, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, Driverstrasse 22, 49377 Vechta, Germany
C Winckler
Affiliation:
Division of Livestock Sciences, Department of Sustainable Agricultural Systems, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Gregor-Mendel Straße 33, 1180 Vienna, Austria
U Knierim
Affiliation:
Department of Farm Animal Behaviour and Husbandry, University of Kassel, Nordbahnhofstraße 1a, 37213 Witzenhausen, Germany
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: brenninkmeyer@wiz.uni-kassel.de
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Abstract

Four observers were trained in lameness assessment using a subjective scoring system with five categories, and observer agreement was investigated four times at different stages of training and experience. Inter-observer reliability increased with time and reached acceptable levels in the last session. Retrospectively simplified versions of the scoring system were satisfactorily reliable already at a fairly low training level. For experienced raters, the original scoring system with five categories is suitable in terms of reliability for on-farm welfare assessment.

Keywords

animal welfaredairy cattlelameness scoringobserver agreementreliability

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