Dairy Farmers' Perspectives on Health Management Programs
Author Information
Author(s): Erling Kristensen, Carsten Enevoldsen
Primary Institution: Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen
Hypothesis
How do dairy farmers perceive the value(s) of their involvement in an intensive dairy herd health management program?
Conclusion
Farmers value teamwork and animal welfare more than veterinarians perceive, who focus primarily on production and profit.
Supporting Evidence
- Farmers' views were categorized into four families: Teamwork, Animal welfare, Knowledge dissemination, and Production.
- Veterinarians believed farmers primarily focused on production and profit, contrary to farmers' actual values.
- Farmers expressed a desire for veterinarians to have more knowledge in business and management.
Takeaway
Farmers care a lot about working together and keeping their cows happy, while vets often think farmers just want to make more money.
Methodology
The study used Q-methodology to analyze farmers' and veterinarians' perspectives through ranking statements and interviews.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the subjective nature of the Q-methodology and the specific context of the participants.
Limitations
The study's findings may not be generalizable beyond the specific group of farmers and veterinarians involved.
Participant Demographics
16 Danish dairy farmers and 18 veterinarians, all associated with a large veterinary practice.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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