Utilizing digital images to evaluate accuracy and repeatability of body condition score in cull sows

Taylor et al discuss their study on the accuracy and repeatability when determining cull sow body condition scores (BCS) evaluated by scorers utilizing digital images. Group standards were established utilizing the scores from two participants with extensive experience BCS sows. Other scorers were not provided training before they scored images and no "scorer calibration" activity occurred to ensure that each scorer was observing similar traits when applying BCS. Data from the first sow group showed that relative to the standard's mean scores, participants overestimated BCS by .41. A similarly selected second set of cull sow images obtained from the same abattoir was recorded. The second group included more sow images and a greater number images that were scored a second time in order to calculate the repeatability values. The same measures described for group were calculated.