Steven Ftizner

Publication Date

7-1992

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Gordon Jones, James Worthington, Elmer Gray

Degree Program

Department of Agriculture

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

There has been some concern recently about the ability of technicians to accurately measure and rank prospective replacement heifers and herd bulls for pelvic area. Two studies were conducted to determine the repeatabilities between and within technicians with varying levels of experience in measuring pelvic areas.

In both studies, virgin yearling heifers were measured for pelvic height and width to determine pelvic area. In each study, technicians included a veterinarian with several years experience in reproductive physiology practice and Western Kentucky University students with varying levels of experience in rectal examinations. In the first study , the veterinarian used both the “Krautmann-Litton” pelvimeter and the “Rice” pelvimeter, but in the second study, the veterinarian used only the “Krautmann-Litton” Pelvimeter. In both studies, the students used a “Rice” pelvimeter.

Coefficients of correlation and Spearman’s coefficients of rank correlation were calculated to determine repeatabilities between and within technicians. In the first experiment, the correlations between technicians for pelvic area ranged from .66 to .92 and Spearman’s rank correlations between technicians ranged from .65 to .92. In the second experiment, the correlations between and within technicians for pelvic area ranged from .78 to .97 and Sparman’s rank correlations between and within technicians ranged from .77 to .95. The results of these studies show clearly that cattle breeders can become proficient at measuring the pelvic area of heifers and bulls and in ranking them for selection purposes.

Disciplines

Agriculture | Animal Sciences | Life Sciences

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