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Validation of a body condition scoring system in Nili Ravi dairy buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis): inter- and intra-assessor variability

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 November 2022

Sayyad H. Magsi ,
Nisar Ahmad ,
Muhammad A. Rashid ,
Musa Bah ,
Maqsood Akhter  and
Muhammad Q. Shahid
Sayyad H. Magsi
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Management, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Nisar Ahmad
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Management, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Muhammad A. Rashid
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Nutrition, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
Musa Bah
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Management, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan School of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of The Gambia, Sere Kunda, The Gambia
Maqsood Akhter
Affiliation:
Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki 55300, Punjab, Pakistan
Muhammad Q. Shahid*
Affiliation:
Department of Livestock Management, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
*
Author for correspondence: Muhammad Q. Shahid, Email: qamar.shahid@uvas.edu.pk
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Abstract

The aim of the research reported in this Research Communication was to apply the 5-point body condition scoring (BCS) system to dairy buffaloes and subjectively validate it by assessing the intra- and inter-assessor agreement. For this purpose, the BCS system developed for dairy cows was applied to buffaloes. A total of 230 Nili Ravi buffaloes of varying parity, lactation stages and pregnancy status were enrolled from the Buffalo Research Institute, Pattoki, Pakistan. Four observers independently assigned BCS values to each enrolled buffalo in two phases, as follows: (1) during phase I, the assessors were trained for BCS assessment using a BCS chart developed by Elanco Animal Health Ltd.; and (2) during phase II, the assessors were trained using live buffaloes for BCS assessment. Kappa statistics (kw) were used to determine the intra- and inter-assessor agreement. The results revealed that the exact overall inter- and intra-assessor agreement was moderate (kw = 0.48–0.55) and increased to substantial levels after training on live animals (kw = 0.63–0.87). Furthermore, the intra- and inter-assessor exact agreement was higher (kw = 0.57–0.58) for buffaloes tied to the mangers compared to the buffaloes standing in the loafing area (kw = 0.50). The inter-assessor agreements within 0.25 and 0.5 points were almost perfect (kw = 0.97–1.0). The current results suggested that the 5-point BCS system (using a scale from 1 to 5 with 0.25 increments) had substantial agreement for assessment and repeatability when applied to buffaloes.

Keywords

BCSdairy buffaloessubjective validation
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 89 , Issue 4 , November 2022 , pp. 382 - 385
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Hannah Dairy Research Foundation

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