@conference {4186,
	title = {BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Evaluation of farmer and technician ability to identify low BCS sheep by visual assessment and palpation},
	booktitle = {Hamilton},
	volume = {85},
	year = {2025},
	pages = {32-34},
	address = {Hamilton},
	abstract = {<p>This study compared the accuracy of farmers and technicians at identifying ewes of inadequate body condition score (BCS; \&lt;3) using a visual method as ewes moved down a drafting race compared to physical palpation of the lumbar spine. At each of 0, 3- and 6-months wool growth, eight participants assessed a mob of 100 ewes of known BCS to identify those of inadequate BCS. At 0-months wool growth participants were highly accurate with both methods at determining that ewes who were BCS <=2.0. At 3- and 6-months wool growth they were less accurate using either method, there were no differences between the two methods.</p>
},
	keywords = {assessment, Body condition score, ewe, production, sheep},
	author = {A.L. Ridler and P.R. Kenyon and R.A. Corner-Thomas}
}
