The lack of a defined differentiation of GS1 ducks
and the inter-rater reliability associated with the scoring
of the walking abilities of 14 d old ducks raises concern
about the utility of the system for assessing the
walking ability of young ducks. However, at older duck
ages, the gait score assignments do relate to quantifiable
differences in walking ability, and are associated
with acceptable levels of intra- and inter-rater agreement.
Therefore, this study provides initial support for
the validity and reliability of the 3-point gait score system
for use with ducks over 21 d of age. It remains unclear
whether the 3-point system is fully able to capture
the differences between the categories of walking abilities,
or whether additional separation of gait parameters
could be achieved using a 5-point gait score system
for ducks, such as the one developed by O’Driscoll and
Broom (2011) based on the Bristol gait score system for
broilers (Kestin et al., 1992). Future work should focus
on further validation of both the 3-point and 5-point
gait score systems using additional parameters, assessment
of intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of ducks assessed
on-farm, development of assessments appropriate
for evaluating younger aged ducks, and determination
of the relationship between gait score and duck health
and welfare.
The lack of a defined differentiation of GS1 ducksand the inter-rater reliability associated with the scoringof the walking abilities of 14 d old ducks raises concernabout the utility of the system for assessing thewalking ability of young ducks. However, at older duckages, the gait score assignments do relate to quantifiabledifferences in walking ability, and are associatedwith acceptable levels of intra- and inter-rater agreement.Therefore, this study provides initial support forthe validity and reliability of the 3-point gait score systemfor use with ducks over 21 d of age. It remains unclearwhether the 3-point system is fully able to capturethe differences between the categories of walking abilities,or whether additional separation of gait parameterscould be achieved using a 5-point gait score systemfor ducks, such as the one developed by O’Driscoll andBroom (2011) based on the Bristol gait score system forbroilers (Kestin et al., 1992). Future work should focuson further validation of both the 3-point and 5-pointgait score systems using additional parameters, assessmentof intra- and inter-rater reliabilities of ducks assessedon-farm, development of assessments appropriatefor evaluating younger aged ducks, and determinationof the relationship between gait score and duck healthand welfare.
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