Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the opinions of farmers on a consulting project, which was established for organic dairy farms in Northern Germany involving different animal health experts who participated in the meetings. Furthermore, the properties of measures that are of decisive importance for implementation on the farms were identified to improve consultancy services for dairy farming. Once a year, the farmers met on a host-farm in one of three groups consisting of five to nine farms, a facilitator and an expert. At each meeting, a host-farm was visited and the analysed data of all participating farms of the previous year were presented to the group members. Each farmer had the possibility to report on success stories and issues concerning his herd. During discussions, the farmers first proposed mutual farm-specific measures for improving herd health and animal welfare. Afterwards, the expert named possible interventions and commented on the given measures of the farmers. All measures were noted by the facilitator. At the end of each meeting, each farmer could choose which of the given measures he wanted to implement. Open group-interviews as well as anonymous questionnaires for the farmers were used at the meetings in winter 2016/2017 to evaluate their perception of this consulting project and to determine which properties of measures were important for implementation on the farms. Based on the results of this study, the participating farmers were very positive towards this kind of consulting project. They favoured the participation of an expert during the meetings and the analysis of farm specific data. Farmers mostly chose measures for implementation proposed by farmers and approved by the expert, followed by those proposed by the expert only. Measures were chosen when they were practical in the implementation, effective, efficient and took a low additional workload for implementation.

Highlights

  • The aim of this study was to examine the opinions of farmers on a consulting project, which was established for organic dairy farms in Northern Germany involving different animal health experts who participated in the meetings

  • Open group-interviews as well as anonymous questionnaires for the farmers were used at the meetings in winter 2016/2017 to evaluate their perception of this consulting project and to determine which properties of measures were important for implementation on the farms

  • Managers of organic dairy farms, who were familiar dominant animal health problems of the participating farms with the Competence Centre for Organic Farming due to per group, which emerged during the phone conversations prior consultation meetings, were invited via questionnaire with the farmers and derived from the analysed data to participate voluntarily in the fee-based consulting project. of the monthly dairy herd improvement test as well as from

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Summary

This is due to the fact that participation of external persons

Several successful approaches fo- offers a more objective view and inspiration and may help to cusing on herd health planning for organic production were identify issues and to find solutions [1,6,15]. Managers of organic dairy farms, who were familiar dominant animal health problems of the participating farms with the Competence Centre for Organic Farming due to per group, which emerged during the phone conversations prior consultation meetings, were invited via questionnaire with the farmers and derived from the analysed data to participate voluntarily in the fee-based consulting project. None of the farmers felt fellow farmers who joined the project later- to get familiar intimidated when an expert took part at the annual meeting with the group members and to deepen their knowledge (Table 1). Most farmers found the farm-visits of group fellow were especially important as udder health issues were dis- farmers “important” and “absolutely” educational or useful cussed intensively in the annual consulting meetings so (Table 1).

Extent of structural or technical changes on the farm
Source of proposed measures
Findings
Discussion
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