Animal Production

Table of Contents - 1978 - Volume 26, Issue 02  

Research Article

The interpretation and analysis of subjective body condition scores

D. G. Evansa1

a1 Meat and Livestock Commission, PO Box 44, Queensway House, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK2 2EF

Abstract

Subjective scoring data may be analysed by ranking methods, ANOVA methods or by inspection of the score distributions. These methods are discussed with particular reference to body condition scores of cows and ewes. A combination of ANOVA and ad hoc inspection was used to analyse data from trials carried out in 1976 to investigate the precision of condition scoring. On the basis of the results, recommendations are made concerning the use of condition scoring on farms and in scoring trials where the object is to monitor assessor bias and inconsistency.

(Received November 15 1976)