Assessing Extensive Semi-Arid Rangeland Beef Cow–Calf Welfare in Namibia: Part 1: Comparison between Farm Production System’s Effect on the Welfare of Beef Cows
, Richard Laven 1, Tim Parkinson 1, Rebecca Hickson 2 and Kevin Stafford 2
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Very good to see research in this area.
Generally well written.
63: As 'semi-commercial" is defined above as communal, what are the three types?
299-308: As regional differences may be an important factor more specific detail about the regions (recent rainfall?) should be given especially as there is a prevailing drought condition.
388: branding is not the suitable term for this procedure: "hot iron line firing"?
Author Response
Thanks so much for your valuable comments.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
This is a good Ms. Congratulation. Anyway some comments from my side. I found same confounder which I ask you to explain or correct, like rumen filling as a short-term score and BCS as a long-term score.
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Line |
Comment |
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31 |
Should this not have the meaning of: „… with five herds in on semi-commercial village level.“? |
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97 |
Please explain the meaning of Total cow/heifers/herd |
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107 |
give the range of altitude above sea level |
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109 |
give the range of altitude above sea level |
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123 |
a range cannot have < |
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125 |
a range cannot have a < |
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141 |
give the range of altitude above sea level |
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189 |
define blindness: Was it tested in an ophthalmological way or in a general clinical way? In ophthalmological studies severe cataract with major loss of visibility is found in 3% of bovines. I accept your results, but they have to be explained who the animals were tested for. |
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197 |
stick to bold |
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208 |
check this explanation of the Bonferroni -Dunn correction: To be significant the p-value has to be <0.05/3. |
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291 |
Rumen fill is a very short-term scoring. It can change very quickly. Emaciated cattle and BCS are finding with a long-term influence. This has to be mentioned in the text and this difference has to be discussed. |
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324 |
The relation of lameness to BCS is directly linked to feeding, because lameness is related to the fat cushion in the claw. Therefor you have to mention that it is a feeding problem. |
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348 |
Another confounder could be the control of cows at birth in commercial large farms and the availability of specialists, i.e. veterinarians in communal farms in case of dystocia. |
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371 |
Explain FAN (Farm Assured Namibian) |
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401 |
village farm is not consistent with the 3 farm systems mentioned above. Communal = village? |
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475 |
once you write 4109-4120 and once 4109-20, check with ANIMALS layout; check all |
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480 |
does it need pp? Check all |
Author Response
Thank you so much for your valuable comments and edits.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
