Repeatability and reproducibility of transrectal pelvic measurements with the Rice-pelvimeter in South African beef cattle measured by experienced and unexperienced observers

Abstract

The repeatability and reproducibility of pelvis measurements with the Rice-pelvimeter of four South African beef cattle done by an experienced and unexperienced was subject of this research. Three observers, one experienced veterinarian and two master veterinary science students, measured the pelvis height and width of 106 animals twice. Comparing these measurements within and between observer established the repeatability and reproducibility for the pelvis measurements. The experienced observer had a difference between the first and second measurement -0,17 cm for the horizontal pelvic measurements (95% limits of agreement -1.37 – 1.03) and -0.06 cm for the vertical pelvic measurements (95% limits of agreement -1.16 – 1.04). The unexperienced observer had a bias of -0.21 cm (95% limits of agreement -1.95 – 1.53) and -0.01 cm (95% limits of agreement -1.59 – 1.56) for the horizontal pelvic measurements and a bias of -0.12 cm (95% limits of agreement -1.77 – 1.53) and -0.07 cm (95% limits of agreement-2.27 – 1.61) for the vertical pelvic measurements. The repeatability and reproducibility were influenced by the observers and the different breeds. We concluded that the Rice-pelvimeter is reliable measurements tool when used by an experienced observer and less reliable when used by an unexperienced observer.