Inter-observer agreement for clinical examinations of foot lesions of sheep.
Authors: Phythian C J, Cripps P J, Grove-White D, Michalopoulou E, Duncan J S
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary Accurate diagnosis of ovine foot lesions underpins effective disease control and treatment outcomes, yet the reliability of clinical foot examinations across different practitioners remains poorly characterised. Phythian and colleagues recruited eight observers with varied experience and backgrounds to independently examine 1,158 sheep across 38 farms in northern Britain, recording the presence or absence of five common foot conditions: white line lesions, contagious ovine digital dermatitis, footrot, inter-digital dermatitis, and toe granuloma. Inter-observer agreement was strong for most conditions, with maximum error rates of just 3.3% when compared to a test standard observer—the notable exception being white line lesions, which showed considerably higher disagreement at 33.3%. These findings suggest that practitioners can achieve consistent, reliable diagnoses for the majority of foot lesions affecting lame sheep, though white line assessment warrants cautious interpretation or additional diagnostic support given its variable recognition. For farm teams and veterinary practices, this validates the use of clinical foot examinations as a standardised diagnostic tool across multiple handlers, provided staff receive appropriate training and maintain consistency in their assessment criteria.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Physical examination of sheep feet is a reliable diagnostic method for most common lesions, even among observers with different training levels and experience
- •White line lesions require more careful assessment as they showed higher observer variation; standardised training or additional diagnostic aids may improve consistency
- •Farmers and veterinarians can rely on physical examination findings for confident diagnosis and treatment decisions for infectious and non-infectious foot conditions in sheep
Key Findings
- •Eight observers of varying experience achieved good inter-observer agreement for most foot lesion diagnoses in 1,158 sheep across 38 farms
- •White line lesions showed the poorest agreement with a maximum error rate of 33.3% compared to the test standard observer
- •Five common foot conditions (CODD, footrot, inter-digital dermatitis, and toe granuloma) had maximum error rates of only 3.3% or less
- •Clinical examination using physical assessment alone can achieve reliable diagnostic agreement for most ovine foot lesions associated with lameness