Major Advances in Extension Education Programs in Dairy Production

Developing a model to promote caretaker confidence and communication in treatment decisions for dairy cattle through case studies

The significant role of dairy caretakers in maintaining animal welfare on dairy farms emphasizes the necessity of appropriate training and education to ensure the implementation of practices that promote good animal welfare. This study explored the potential of case-based learning as a novel approach to training for dairy caretakers by investigating dairy caretakers' perspectives on case study discussions. Additionally, this study sought to understand thoughts and feelings of caretakers during case study discussions to help identify information that caretakers use to evaluate cases and make decisions. Two case studies were developed and presented to participants, and thematic analysis of case study discussion transcripts was performed. Pre- and post-training questionnaires for 21 caretakers (n = 21) were summarized. The study found that caretaker reactions to case studies were generally positive. Thematic analysis revealed that caretakers use previous knowledge to make treatment decisions for cattle, and valued discussion with coworkers. The results of this study suggest the need for further investigation into the use of case studies and other activities that provide opportunities for critical thinking as training opportunities on dairy farms.

Dairy farm worker milking equipment training with an E-learning system

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Milking equipment malfunctions, which milkers could detect, are common on dairy farms.

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Our results reaffirm the lack of communication between managers and employees, which restate the necessity to state objectives and goals on every training.

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Practical logistics of on-farm training are a limiting factor, so the use of online training is a reasonable alternative for dairy farms, increasing employees' confidence by providing more detailed training content.

In many farms, the logistics of on-farm training are a limiting factor due to communication challenges in the workplace (i.e., cultural differences, language barriers, impaired listening skills) and limited access to industry professionals. The use of E-learning systems may help to improve communication and can be sensitive to cultural challenges. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify how many of the high-priority problems in the milking parlor relate to milker training in the areas of milking equipment and milking routine, (2) design and test an E-learning training system for dairy farm milkers related to milking equipment, and (3) gain feedback targeted to improve subsequent E-learning training modules. An interactive online training course on basic checks of the milking equipment was developed with a cloud-based authoring software. A total of 95 dairy farm workers on 15 commercial dairy farms in northern New York State (USA) were trained and participated in the study. Milk quality professionals performed an initial evaluation of 3 main areas: equipment analysis, milker assessment, and cow assessment. The 3 most important risk factors for mastitis were summarized for each farm. A training event was scheduled with milkers guided by a bilingual (English and Spanish) professional in milk quality. Over 50% of the farms (8/15) had one or more of the top 3 priorities involving problems with milking equipment, which milkers could have detected and reported to management. All participants completed the module, 95% stated that they felt capable of checking the equipment before milking, and 86% felt more confident in reporting equipment problems to the manager after having taken the course. There were also differences between managers' and milkers' statements on how and whether milking equipment training was offered or not on the farm. This can be explained due to the lack of or secondary to poor communication between managers and employees on training objectives and goals on the farm. Our results also show that milking equipment issues which milkers could detect and report are common on dairy farms and reinforces the need for additional milker training in this area.

Views of Western Canadian dairy producers on calf rearing: An interview-based study

Calf rearing practices differ among farms, including feeding and weaning methods. These differences may relate to how dairy producers view these practices and evaluate their own success. The aim of this study was to investigate perspectives of dairy producers on calf rearing, focusing on calf weaning and how they characterized weaning success. We interviewed dairy producers from 16 farms in Western Canada in the following provinces: British Columbia (n = 12), Manitoba (n = 2), and Alberta (n = 2). Participants were asked to describe their heifer calf weaning and rearing practices, and what they viewed as successes and challenges in weaning and rearing calves. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and subjected to qualitative analysis from which we identified the following 4 major themes: (1) reliance on calf-based measures (e.g., health, growth, and behavior), (2) management factors and personal experiences (e.g., ease, consistency, and habit), (3) environmental factors (e.g., facilities and equipment), and (4) external support (e.g., advice and educational opportunities). These results provided insight into how dairy producers view calf weaning and rearing, and may help inform the design of future research and knowledge transfer projects aimed at improving management practices on dairy farms.

Needs assessment for cooperative extension dairy programs in California

The present study aimed to identify dairy producer needs and how best to direct and deliver cooperative extension (CE) programming. In March 2017, we mailed a needs assessment survey to grade A dairy producers in California (n = 1,080). The response rate was 15.4% (n = 166) and herd size averaged 1,405 milking cows (range 83-5,500). The geographic distribution of survey responses was representative of the distribution of dairies throughout the state. Producers were asked to indicate the level of concern for a predetermined list of 11 issues. Rank of concern had 3 numeric levels: (1) very concerned, (2) somewhat concerned, or (3) not concerned. Mean and percentage of responses in each rank for each issue topic were calculated. The top 5 concerns/obstacles indicated were (1) milk price, (2) labor availability/quality, (3) environmental issues/regulations, (4) labor costs, and (5) water quality/availability. Surveyed respondents were also asked to determine the level of priority of a predetermined list of 13 CE research and educational opportunities. Producers ranked topics as low, medium, or high priority. The 5 highest priority research topics were (1) herd health, (2) environmental issues, (3) reproduction, (4) milk quality, and (5) water quality. The 5 highest priority educational topics were (1) herd health, (2) milk quality, (3) reproduction, (4) environmental issues, and (5) calf and heifer management. Producers were then asked to identify the target audience for CE information delivery and preferred information delivery method. Most respondents indicated that the target audience should be dairy owners (93%) or managers (66%). Fewer producers indicated a target audience of dairy employees (27%) or allied industry (23%). Preferable information delivery methods were newsletter or magazine articles (81%), half-day/short meetings (47%), and on-farm training/meetings (39%). Webinars and 2- or 3-d destination meetings were the least preferable methods (27 and 9%, respectively). Survey results will serve to develop future dairy cooperative extension programs in California.

Culling from the actors' perspectives-Decision-making criteria for culling in Québec dairy herds enrolled in a veterinary preventive medicine program

The series of events leading to the decision to cull a cow is complex, involving both individual-level and herd-level factors. While the decision is guided by financial returns, it is also influenced by social and psychological factors. Research studies on the motivational and behavioural aspects of farmers' decision utility are sparse, and nonexistent regarding culling expectations and its decision process. Our goal was to identify shared criteria on culling decisions held by dairy producers and farm advisers, with the help of the Q-methodology. Forty-one dairy producers and 42 advisers (17 veterinarians, 13 feed mill advisers, and 12 dairy herd improvement (DHI) advisers) undertook a Q-sort with 40 statements that represented a range of views about cow and herd health, production performance, management issues, and material factors that might impact their culling decision-making process. The sorts were analysed by-person using factor analysis and oblimin rotation. A single view on culling could be identified among dairy producers that can be extended to dairy farm advisers, who showed two variations of the same well-structured, uni-dimensional decision-making process. Udder health, milk production performance, and milk quota management were the key criteria for the culling decision. Farm management parameters (debts, amortization, employees, milking parlour capacity, herd size) did not play any role in the decision process. Three key differences were, however, identified between producers and the two types of advisers. One group of advisers followed the recommendations from mathematical models, where pregnancy is a major determinant of a cow's value. They assessed the cow in a more abstract way than did the other participants, still taking into account udder health and milk production, but adding economic considerations, like the availability of financial incentives and an evaluation of the post-partum health of the cow. Dairy producers were also more concerned about producing healthy and safe milk, which might reflect a different value given to dairy farming than by advisers. Very different degrees of importance were given to animal welfare by the three groups, which could represent different views on the attributed relationships between dairy farmers and their animals. Our findings suggest that dairy producers and their advisers hold a general common view regarding culling decision-making. However there are significant differences between producers and advisers, and among advisers. Understanding and managing these differences is important for assisting the change management processes required to increase farm profitability, and call for further investigation.

Invited review: Determinants of farmers' adoption of management-based strategies for infectious disease prevention and control

The prevention and control of endemic pathogens within and between farms often depends on the adoption of best management practices. However, farmers regularly do not adopt recommended measures or do not enroll in voluntary disease control programs. This indicates that a more comprehensive understanding of the influences and extension tools that affect farmers' management decisions is necessary. Based on a review of relevant published literature, we developed recommendations to support policy-makers, industry representatives, researchers, veterinarians, and other stakeholders when motivating farmers to adopt best management practices, and to facilitate the development and implementation of voluntary prevention and control programs for livestock diseases. Farmers will make management decisions based on their unique circumstances, agricultural contexts, beliefs, and goals. Providing them with rational but universal arguments might not always be sufficient to motivate on-farm change. Implementation of recommended management practices is more likely if farmers acknowledge the existence of a problem and their responsibility to take action. The perceived feasibility and effectiveness of the recommended management strategy and sufficient technical knowledge further increase the likelihood of adequate adoption. Farmers will also weigh the expected advantages of a proposed change against the expected disadvantages, and these considerations often include internal drivers such as pride or the desire to conform with perceived standards. Extension tools and farmers' social referents (e.g., veterinarians, peers) not only provide technical information but also influence these standards. Whereas mass media have the potential to deliver information to a broad audience, more personal approaches such as participatory group learning or individual communication with farm advisors can enable the tailoring of recommendations to farmers' situations. Approaches that appeal to farmers' internal motivators or that unconsciously elicit the desired behavior will increase the success of the intervention. Collaboration among stakeholders, assisted by social scientists and communication specialists, is necessary to provide a context that facilitates on-farm change and transfers consistent messages across extension tools in the most effective way.

The role of communication in improving udder health

Our findings provide insight into Dutch dairy farmers’ behavior and mindset toward mastitis management, and into the way these can be affected by communication strategies. They may differ from those of North American dairy farmers, but probably many findings are comparable. Elements of farmer mindset are important determining factors in mastitis control, including the perceived threat (ie, “Do I have a problem?”) and the perceived efficacy of mastitis management measures (ie, “Can I solve the problem easily?”). These issues need to be addressed in communication strategies. Veterinarians can be important intermediaries in communication about udder health, provided that they are aware of their role as proactive advisor and apply the accompanying communication skills. To be effective, a mastitis control program should do more than distributing technical information about best management practices to dairy farmers. Prevention of complex diseases such as mastitis requires customized communication strategies as well as an integrated approach between various stakeholders and different scientific disciplines. Because farmers are part of, and are influenced by a wide institutional context, such programs need to be supported by a combination of several policy measures to change farm management in the long run.

Communication in production animal medicine: modelling a complex interaction with the example of dairy herd health medicine

Background

The importance of communication skills in veterinary medicine is increasingly recognised. Appropriate communication skills towards the client are of utmost importance in both companion animal practice and production animal field and consultancy work. The need for building a relationship with the client, alongside developing a structure for the consultation is widely recognised and applies to both types of veterinary practice.

Results

Veterinary advisory practice in production animal medicine is, however, characterised by a more complex communication on different levels. While the person-orientated communication is a permanent process between veterinarian and client with a rather personal perspective and defines the roles of interaction, the problem-orientated communication deals with emerging difficulties; the objective is to solve an acute health problem. The solution - orientated communication is a form of communication in which both veterinarian and client address longstanding situations or problems with the objective to improve herd health and subsequently productivity performance. All three forms of communication overlap.

Conclusions

Based on this model, it appears useful for a veterinary practice to offer both a curative and an advisory service, but to keep these two separated when deemed appropriate. In veterinary education, the strategies and techniques necessary for solution orientated communication should be included in the teaching of communication skills.

Debunking the myth of the hard-to-reach farmer: effective communication on udder health

Worldwide, programs to control mastitis are implemented using different strategies to reach farmers. Even though education materials and best practices may be technically optimal, they need to be used to be successful. Thus, effective communication with farmers is essential in order to change their behavior and to improve their farm management. During a Dutch national mastitis control program, a substantial number of farmers seemed to be hard to reach with information on udder health. Consequently, this study was designed to provide insight into the attitude and motivation of such farmers. In the period of October 2007 to July 2008, 24 in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with farmers whose veterinarians considered to be difficult to approach with advice on udder health management (8 practices, 3 farmers from each practice). The interviews included questions about the farms and the farmers, their attitude and behavior regarding mastitis, and their information sources and social environment. The results show that so-called hard-to-reach farmers were not always badly informed about udder health and did not always experience problems with mastitis. These ostensibly unreachable farmers were not a homogeneous group, but rather could be divided into 4 categories based on their trust in external information sources regarding mastitis and their orientation toward the outside world: proactivists, do-it-yourselfers, wait-and-see-ers, and reclusive traditionalists. There are ample opportunities to reach hard-to-reach farmers, provided that the communication strategies are tailored to their specific needs. There is especially much to gain in communication with do-it-yourselfers and wait-and-see-ers, but this demands a more proactive role on the part of veterinarians and extension specialists. Different types of farmers need to be approached in different ways and through different channels with information on udder health. Consequently, this study can contribute to the optimization of future programs designed to control and prevent diseases.

Dairy reproductive management: assessing a comprehensive continuing education program for veterinary practitioners

Comprehensive continuing veterinary medical education (CVME) programs are critical for veterinary practitioners to update their knowledge and improve their skills and services. CVME must offer an educational environment in which veterinarians can effectively rejuvenate their knowledge and skills and learn about new practices. The Ohio Dairy Health and Management Certificate Program is a comprehensive CVME program for practicing dairy veterinarians that was developed to provide advanced training on previously identified needs of the dairy industry. Our objectives in this article were (1) to provide a description of a comprehensive CVME program designed to enhance the flow of applied, research-based knowledge from educators and researchers to dairy veterinary practitioners and (2) to provide an assessment of outcomes achieved and experiences gained after the delivery of the first two modules on advanced dairy reproductive management. Findings from the two reproductive modules suggested that (1) the designed dairy reproductive management program was able to meet the participants' educational needs, (2) the implemented delivery methods significantly increased participants' knowledge level, and (3) additional educational needs should be addressed with future programming. In conclusion, results from the participants' self-reports suggested that both reproductive modules were relevant and effective, offering new information with immediate field application. These types of educational programs are important for dairy veterinary practitioners because they are a vital source of information and service providers for dairy producers. For the program to be considered completely successful, a detailed follow-up assessment of participants' behavior change, adoption of new practices and skills, and their on-farm impact is needed.