505. The accuracy of measurements of the mammary glands by the method of palpation

Abstract

1. An investigation was carried out, using objectively measurable stimuli, to examine the method of assessing the size of the mammary glands of calves by palpation. The method was that described by Swett.2. The results indicate that the estimated sizes may be very different from the true sizes, although the two are generally highly correlated. In most cases the estimated sizes are significantly smaller than the true sizes.3. Different judges give very different estimated sizes for the same true sizes, thus it is not justifiable to compare directly glands which have been stated to be of the same size by different judges.