Dairy producer satisfaction and knowledge transfer with the veterinary-administered risk assessment and management plan in a voluntary Johne's disease control program

Karen A Macdonald-Phillips,Greg P Keefe,John Vanleeuwen,Darcy H Shaw,J Mcclure,Shawn L.B Mckenna

doi:10.3168/jds.2021-20678

Karen A Macdonald-Phillips, Greg P Keefe + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2021-20678

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Abstract

The Atlantic Johne's Disease Initiative (AJDI) aims to control Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis infection by using veterinary-administered risk assessments to identify high-risk management practices and prompt changes in management behavior. Objectives for this study were to measure producer satisfaction with the veterinary-administered risk assessment and management plan (RAMP) process in a voluntary Johne's disease (JD) control program, compare RAMP-specific satisfaction results based on herd JD status, and measure knowledge transfer from certified veterinarians to producers during the RAMP. A satisfaction questionnaire was adapted to the RAMP process in the AJDI to measure producer satisfaction. The questionnaire included 9 RAMP-specific producer satisfaction items, 1 global RAMP satisfaction item, and 16 questions to assess producer knowledge and knowledge translation about JD, bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bovine leukosis virus (BLV) during the RAMP (BVD and BLV used for comparison purposes). A total of 133 dairy producers in the AJDI (79.6% response rate) completed the questionnaire by telephone. The RAMP-specific satisfaction was high among the AJDI producers surveyed, and these results were not found to differ based on herd JD status. The lowest satisfaction scores and the highest number of "unable to assess" responses were for the item relating to cost. Factors that contributed to RAMP-specific producer satisfaction were not identified from the demographic and herd information available in this study. The knowledge scores indicated moderate knowledge about JD and fair knowledge about BVD and BLV. Evidence of knowledge translation from the RAMP was mixed in this study. Bovine viral diarrhea knowledge scores were not found to differ based on whether or not the certified veterinarian discussed BVD during the preceding RAMP, but BLV knowledge scores were higher among dairy producers that discussed BLV during the preceding RAMP. Strengths and gaps in producer knowledge about these 3 infectious diseases were identified. By using this producer questionnaire, interventions aimed at improving the content, delivery, and satisfaction of RAMP in JD control programs, such as the AJDI, can be developed.

Highlights

Prevention and management of infectious diseases of dairy cattle are important for the production of dairy products that are safe, nutritious, and meet high consumer expectations
The objectives for this study were to measure RAMPspecific producer satisfaction in a Johne’s disease (JD) control program, compare risk assessment and management plan (RAMP)-specific satisfaction results based on herd JD status, and measure knowledge transfer from certified veterinarians to producers in a JD control program
The required sample size was estimated to be 38 herds to estimate the overall satisfaction score to within 0.2 out of 6.0 of the actual value, with 95% confidence, based on calculations with ProMESA 2.3.0.2 (EpiCentre, IVABS, Massey University, and Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria). Both written and verbal consent was provided by participants; written consent to participate in the Atlantic Johne’s Disease Initiative (AJDI) was obtained at herd enrollment, and verbal consent to participate in the RAMP satisfaction questionnaire was obtained upon initial telephone contact by the interviewer

Summary

Introduction

Prevention and management of infectious diseases of dairy cattle are important for the production of dairy products that are safe, nutritious, and meet high consumer expectations. Johne’s disease (JD), known as paratuberculosis, is an incurable infectious disease of ruminants that affects dairy herds around the world. It is caused by a bacterium, Mycobacterium avium ssp. Johne’s disease results in substantial financial cost to the Canadian dairy industry (Wolf et al, 2014). Research into associations between MAP and Crohn’s disease in humans is ongoing (Chiodini et al, 2012; Sweeney et al, 2012; Atreya et al, 2014). Johne’s disease has been identified as one of the top disease priorities of Canadian dairy farmers, university researchers, and practicing veterinarians (Bauman et al, 2016)

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