A diagnostic approach to educating Minnesota dairy farmers in the prevention and control of bovine mastitis

Abstract

Six characteristics of innovations described as influencing their rates of adoption by farmers are their relative advantage, complexity, ability to be tried, visibility of outcome personal contact between the advocate and the farmer, and compatibility with existing values. In this study, these are related to the adoption of mastitis prevention and control procedures. An educational diagnostic method described by Green et al. was adapted from human health education and applied to mastitis prevention and control with a group of farmers form nine Minnesota dairy farms. The method included six phases. A social diagnosis determined farmers' perceived rewards from dairying to be profit-making, enjoyment of working with animals, a desire to see cows achieve their production potential and a desire to raise a family in a farm setting. An epidemiological diagnosis from the literature determined the reduction of new infection rate and increase in the infection elimination rate to be the principal means of reducing mastitis prevalence. Teat dipping, dry period therapy, detection of clinical mastitis, segregating infected cows at milking, correct udder preparation and correct function and use of the milking machine were the main behavioral factors involved in mastitis control. An educational diagnosis identified pre-disposing, enabling and reinforcing factors associated with mastitis control. Their use in a mastitis control education program is illustrated using the teat dipping behavior as an example. Planning implementation was the fifth phase of the method. It involved rating the importance to mastitis control of various possible control behaviors and the likelihood of changing them. A priority order for employing resources was established from these. Planning also involved defining the behavior changes desired of farmers in mastitis control. The final phase was evaluation. Information from a survey of 222 Minnesota dairy farms was also incorporated in the process. The diagnostic method proved valuable in helping the educators view mastitis from the farmers point of view. A practical educational program was produced.