Tulinova OV, Romanova EA.

Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025. Vol. 108. No. 3. Р. 95-112.

doi:10.33284/2658-3135-108-3-95

Original article

Impact of classifier qualification on the results of linear assessment of cattle 

Olga V Tulinova1, Elena A Romanova2

1,2All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry - VIZh named after Academician L.K. Ernst", St. Petersburg, Russia

1tulinova_59@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5704-4420

2splicing86@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-4225-5533

Abstract. The  results  of  the  exterior  assessment  of the same cows were compared with the 100-point system obtained by the farm classifier (B) with the assessment of the independent classifier (OTT). In Ayrshire and Holstein cows, on average, the total score (TS) is 5 points higher (P≤0.001) in B than OTT. The category of “excellent” (P) includes 3.4% of the Ayrshire of OTT and 26.6% of B, and among the Holstein 3.1 and 22.7%. The divergence of classification assessments is interpreted using factor analysis obtained by both appraisers, and linear assessments of the same animals received by OTT, which indicates a greater difference in approaches to evaluating individual exterior articles. The correlation matrix shows that in different breed groups, the correlation level and direction differ (the relationship between DC (OTT) and DC (B) is +0,357 in Ayrshire, and by Holstein -0.248 (P≤0.001); Ud (OTT) and Ud (B) -+0.328 against -0.232 (P≤0.00.); TS (OTT) and TS (B) - +0.338 against -0.231 (P≤0.001). Principal Component Analysis shows that the OTT and B estimates in Ayrshire herds are quite close, in contradistinction to Holstein. The indicators of the TS (B) assessments in Ayrshire cows are scattered, and in Holstein herds the variability is very low, the interquartile range (IQR) in a number of farms did not exceed two points: in K(B) 86-87 points, in M(B) 94-95 points, R(B) 89-90 points, which indicates a distortion of the data obtained. Based on the results of the evaluation of the breeding bulls, it was revealed that B mainly underestimated the legs, but overestimated the quality of the udder, which changed the DC assessment. The results of the research indicate that in order to achieve progress in improving the body type of Ayrshire and Holstein cows, a system of qualified independent classifiers should be created in the regions, and at the federal level - a center for consulting and evaluating the results of classifiers.

Keywords: dairy farming, body type, classifier, correlation, principal component analysis, factor analysis

Acknowledgments: the work was performed in accordance to the plan of research works for 2024-2026 RRIFAGB (No. 124020200029-4).

For citation: Tulinova OV, Romanova EA. Impact of classifier qualification on the results of linear assessment of cattle. Animal Husbandry and Fodder Production. 2025;108(3):95-112. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.33284/2658-3135-108-3-95

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Information about the authors:

Olga V Tulinova, Cand. Sci. (Agriculture), Leading Researcher Laboratory of Population Genetics and Animal Breeding, All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry - VIZh named after Academician L.K. Ernst, St. Petersburg, Tyarlevo, Moscow highway, 55a, 196625, tel.: +7-921-305-80-06.

Elena A Romanova, Researcher Laboratory of Population Genetics and Animal Breeding, All-Russian Research Institute of Genetics and Breeding of Farm Animals, branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution "Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry - VIZh named after Academician L.K. Ernst, St. Petersburg, Tyarlevo, Moscow highway, 55a, 196625, tel.: +7-921-305-80-06.

The article was submitted 17.03.2025; approved after reviewing 21.05.2025; accepted for publication 15.09.2025

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