Abstract
Simple SummaryFurther understanding of why dairy farmers do not engage in disease prevention and control strategies (biosecurity) is required. Using semi-structured interviews informed by a health psychology approach with 25 dairy farmers, a number of barriers, such as disease testing inaccuracies, types of disease transmission, perceived lack of risk and effectiveness of measures, were identified. Motivators included being advised to undertake measures by veterinarians, and the increased threat and severity of the disease in focus. These results suggest there is an advantage to farm advisors and herd health professionals understanding and working with the beliefs of individual dairy farmers to target appropriate communication and advice strategies relating to biosecurity recommendations.Disease prevention and control practices are frequently highlighted as important to ensure the health and welfare of farmed animals, although little is known as to why not many practices are carried out. The aim of this study was to identify the motivators and barriers of dairy cattle farmers towards the use of biosecurity measures on dairy farms using a health psychology approach. Twenty-five farmers on 24 farms in Great Britain (GB) were interviewed using the Theory of Planned Behaviour framework. Results indicated that farmers perceived they had the ability to control what happened on their farms in terms of preventing and controlling disease, and described benefits from being proactive and vigilant. However, barriers were cited in relation to testing inaccuracies, effectiveness and time-efficiency of practices, and disease transmission route (e.g., airborne transmission). Farmers reported they were positively influenced by veterinarians and negatively influenced by the government (Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)) and the general public. Decisions to implement practices were influenced by the perceived severity of the disease in question, if disease was diagnosed on the farm already, or was occurring on other farms. Farmers described undertaking a form of personal risk assessment when deciding if practices were worth doing, which did not always involve building in disease specific factors or opinions from veterinarians or other advisors. These results indicate that further guidance about the intricacies of control and prevention principles in relation to specific animal diseases may be required, with an obvious role for veterinarians. There appears to be an opportunity for farm advisors and herd health professionals to further understand farmer beliefs behind certain attitudes and target communication and advice accordingly to further enhance dairy cattle health and welfare.
Highlights
It has long been recognised that the prevention and control of diseases, sometimes known by the term biosecurity, on animal production enterprises can result in a number of positive benefits for animal health and welfare [1,2,3,4]
Twenty-five farmers from 24 farms were interviewed in total
Using a health psychology approach, with the TPB framework, has enabled a classification of motivators and barriers which farmers identified as important influences as to whether they undertook disease prevention and control procedures on dairy cattle farms
Summary
It has long been recognised that the prevention and control of diseases, sometimes known by the term biosecurity, on animal production enterprises can result in a number of positive benefits for animal health and welfare [1,2,3,4]. Health psychology theories can identify underlying beliefs which form attitudes and motivations and can relate an action to these beliefs [18,19,20]. These theories help to potentially explain which factors are most influential on a given health behaviour and how these factors interact with each other [21,22]. Some of these theories have been utilised previously within the agricultural sphere and are listed in Table 1; this list is illustrative and not exhaustive
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