The paper by BJ Matthews and JM Morton. published in the New Zealand Veterinary Journal 60, 234–240, 2012, entitled, “Accuracy of predicted calving dates in Holstein-Friesian dairy cows based on fetal ages estimated using manual rectal palpation”, contained two errors in the Materials and methods section (page 235). In the section headed Selection of cows, there was an error in the first sentence. The correct sentence is:
“Cows were eligible for selection in the current study only if they were Holstein-Friesian, were not inseminated before the herd's planned start of breeding period date, had at least one positive pregnancy diagnosis, if the subsequent calving date was recorded, and if this was not recorded as an induced calving or as a premature or twin calving.”
In the section headed Statistical analyses, in the first paragraph, there was an error regarding the gestation length of cows. It was stated “Of these cows, 3,876/3,981 (97.4%) had gestation lengths between 272 and 292 days inclusive i.e. 282 (SD 10) days.” The correct sentence is:
“Of these cows, 3,876/3,981 (97.4%) had gestation lengths between 272 and 292 days inclusive i.e. 282 ±10 days.”