Key actors in driving behavioural change in relation to on-farm biosecurity; a Northern Ireland perspective

Abstract

BackgroundAgriculture and farming are valued contributors to local economy in Northern Ireland (NI). There is limited knowledge about farmers’ behaviours and attitudes towards disease biosecurity measures. As part of a larger project, a scenario-based workshop with key stakeholders was organised by the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI)-NI in December 2015.ResultsA total of 22 participants belonging to 12 different institutions took part in the workshop. Participants were presented with an overview of previously conducted biosecurity research in NI and England. In small groups, participants were subsequently asked to discuss and give their opinions about a series of questions across four key areas in a semi-structured approach with an external facilitator. The key areas were 1- disease risk perception at the farm level; 2-perceived barriers to implementing on farm biosecurity measures; 3- avenues to successful behaviour change and 4-key industry responsibilities and roles. The discussion showed that training in biosecurity for farmers is important and necessary. Training was recommended to be provided by veterinary surgeons, preferably via a face-to-face format. The discussion addressing disease disclosure proved particularly challenging between those who were prospective buyers of cattle, and those who sold cattle.ConclusionsThis workshop provided a unique and invaluable insight into key issues regarding farm level biosecurity activities. From a policy perspective, delivering improved on-farm biosecurity must be addressed via a multidisciplinary approach. This can only be achieved with active involvement, commitment and support of a number of key industry and government stakeholders.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13620-018-0125-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Negotiated Management Strategies for Bovine Tuberculosis: Enhancing Risk Mitigation in Michigan and the UK

“…Human dimensions have been recognised as a key factor influencing the relative success of management approaches (17, 19, 54) with research efforts focusing on the role of public acceptability of wildlife control measures, the attitudes and actions of stakeholders (38, 55, 56) and the adoption of preventative biosecurity measures at the individual farm level. A central research theme, particularly in the UK, has focused on the adoption of biosecurity interventions and efforts to enhance opportunities to limit disease transmission between cattle and between cattle and wildlife at the farm level.…”

“…The research was designed to be a qualitative, in-depth assessment of bTB management approaches in Michigan. As indicated by Naylor et al [(36), p. 286] “interviewing is the method most often adopted to explore potentially sensitive and controversial issues… and are often commended as a research method for their flexibility and ability to explore difficult issues in a comprehensive and sensitive manner.” Unlike the standardised and structured approaches of farmer attitude surveys or Q-Methodology [e.g., (35, 37, 38)] the interviews were semi-structured and discussions were based around a set of themes within an interview guide; this approach has been used in equivalent qualitative studies on bTB and biosecurity [see (32)]. The interview guide consisted of questions relating to the participant's role in bTB control; overview of the factors influencing the relative success of bTB control (including identifying effective policies and interventions); identification of key stakeholders and their positive or negative contribution to disease management; modes of risk communication and the challenges and successes encountered in promoting “best practice” in disease mitigation; and lessons learnt from their experience of managing bTB in Michigan 2 .…”

“I don't go to Meetings”: understanding farmer perspectives on bovine TB and biosecurity training

“…They contend that training in biosecurity for farmers is important and necessary and that veterinary surgeons provide the key to this, preferably through face-to-face meetings 13. The findings explored here, however, demonstrate how difficult brokering such meetings can be and that it is important for vets (and other training providers) to consider alternative strategies for communicating with farmers about negatively perceived issues such as bTB biosecurity.…”

“…Hence, policy-makers and decision-makers (including APHA/Defra) regard the improvement of communication of any advice and guidance available for farmers on biosecurity as a key tool to help control bTB 13. This strategy cuts across all the geographically defined bTB risk areas of England (high; edge; low) and Wales, where differing descriptors of geographic incidence have been identified.…”

A case study on the opinion of smallholder cattle farmers regarding biosecurity policy in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi Province

“…These guidelines or instruction can be conducted through the provision of training and advice as well as the support of governmental elements, such as the local livestock service office and private sector. According to [19], biosecurity training is essential for farmers and should be conducted by veterinarians through the face-to-face format.…”