Recognizing Lameness in Sheep: Farmer and Specialist Decisions
Author Information
Author(s): Jasmeet Kaler, Laura Green
Primary Institution: University of Warwick
Hypothesis
Can farmers accurately identify lame sheep and decide when to catch them for inspection?
Conclusion
Farmers and specialists can recognize mildly lame sheep but differ in their management practices regarding treatment.
Supporting Evidence
- Farmers who treated the first mildly lame sheep reported lower prevalence of lameness.
- Participants recognized sheep with locomotion scores of 2 or higher as lame.
- Decisions to catch sheep varied significantly with locomotion score.
Takeaway
Farmers can see when sheep are a little hurt, but they don't always help them right away. Some wait until more sheep are hurt before they do something.
Methodology
Farmers and sheep specialists watched movie clips of sheep with varying locomotion scores and completed a questionnaire about their decisions to catch the sheep.
Potential Biases
The sample of farmers and sheep specialists was not random, which may impact the results.
Limitations
The study did not assess how farmers observe sheep to detect lameness, which may affect accuracy.
Participant Demographics
178 farmers and 54 sheep specialists participated, with varying numbers of breeding ewes.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Confidence Interval
95% CI: 85% – 90%
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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