Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves

Hendricks, Jillian; Weary, Daniel M.; Keyserlingk, M.A.G. von

doi:10.3168/jds.2022-22051

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…That farmers emphasised the importance of colostrum management in mitigating calf diseases on dairy farms has been previously reported (Sumner et al 2018 ). However, other focus group work done in our research group reported that veterinarians are frequently sceptical as to whether colostrum management on dairy farms is carried out according to best practices (Sumner & von Keyserlingk 2018 ; Hendricks et al 2022 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Canadian dairy farmer views about animal welfare

2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Concerns regarding the welfare of farm animals continue to grow. Traditionally, research efforts have largely focused on refining existing management practices to improve welfare. However, the incorporation of views from those directly involved in animal care is equally, if not more, important. This study investigated the perspectives of Canadian dairy farmers on animal welfare. We conducted 16 interviews with a total of 22 participants from four provinces across Canada. Recorded audio files and field notes were transcribed, anonymised, and coded using deductive and inductive thematic analysis. The interview data revealed two major themes: (1) animal dimension of animal welfare, including views related to biological functioning, naturalness and affective states; and (2) dairy farmer identity, including, the voice of the ‘city’, what it means to be a good ‘cow-man’, and the nature of human-animal relationships. Dairy farmers emphasised biological functioning, but they made numerous references to the emotional and natural living aspects of their animals’ lives. Our work also provides evidence that farmers believed it was their duty to care for their animals beyond simply milking cows and making a profit. In terms of the larger debate, this study identified potential shared values with members of the public: opportunities for natural living and agency, attentiveness to individual animals, and the value of life over death. Finally, the emotional relationship that farmers developed with their animals highlights the values dairy farmers have for their animals beyond simply utilitarian function. Overall, these shared values could contribute to constructive dialogue.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Canadian dairy farmer views about animal welfare

2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recent work indicates that there may be growing acceptance by veterinarians working within the cattle industries that public concern in this area should not be discounted. For example, Hendricks et al ( 2022b ) interviewed Canadian veterinarians about the fate of surplus calves and reported that they felt that they had a role in educating their clients as to the changing societal norms around animal care.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How might the public contribute to the discussion on cattle welfare? Perspectives of veterinarians and animal scientists

Ventura,

Weary,

von Keyserlingk

2023

Anim. welf.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Veterinarians and animal scientists can provide leadership on issues relevant to farm animal welfare, but perceptions of these stakeholders regarding societal expectations for welfare are underexplored. This study involved five focus groups of veterinarians and animal scientists (n = 50 in total), recruited at a European meeting focused on cattle welfare. Participants were invited to discuss topics related to cattle welfare and were prompted with questions to elicit their perspectives of public concerns and how the participants felt public input should be included when developing solutions. Discussions were moderated by trained facilitators, audio-recorded and transcribed, and transcripts analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Ultimately, four primary themes were developed: (1) The public as concerned; (2) The public as ignorant; (3) The public as needing education; and (4) The public as helper or hindrance. Groups identified specific farming practices viewed as concerning to the public, including lack of pasture access, behavioural restriction, and painful procedures. Discussions about these concerns and the role of the public were often framed around the assumption that the public was ignorant about farming, and that this ignorance needed to be rectified through education. Participants were generally ambivalent in their beliefs regarding public contributions to solutions for farm animal welfare but suggested that consumers should pay more for products to help shoulder any costs of welfare improvements.

show abstract

“…They decide when or how to care for an animal and when to end care. Moreover, human owners have the final say in treatment, even when their choice is subpar, such as when they opt for euthanasia against the veterinarian's expert advice (Hendricks, Weary, & von Keyserlingk, 2022).…”

Section: An Integrative Overview Across Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

All Creatures Great and Small: A Review and Typology of Employee-Animal Interactions

Quan,

Lam,

Schabram

et al. 2023

Journal of Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Employees interact with animals in a myriad of ways in the context of work. Herein, we seek to catalog this multiplex phenomenon in order to gain theoretical insights. Our article unfolds in four parts. First, we conduct an interdisciplinary review from which we develop a typology of four employee-animal interactions: working for, with, around, and on animals. Second, we outline the current research for each discrete category. Third, we consider key divergent experiences (e.g., the uniquely gendered nature of each) and convergent themes (e.g., all animal work is emotional and hierarchical) across the typology. Fourth, we supplement our review with two metasyntheses of other workplace team interactions—employee-employee and employee-machine/artificial intelligence interactions—to highlight how the study of human-animal interactions can address current conundrums in the organizational domain. We do so to demonstrate that considerations of employee-animal interactions can offer theoretical value to scholars, including those who may not have an inherent interest in the phenomenon. We complement theoretical extensions with suggestions for future research on core management topics, including humanizing workplaces, the future of work, and team collaboration.

show abstract

Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves

Cited by 10 publications

References 37 publications

Canadian dairy farmer views about animal welfare

Canadian dairy farmer views about animal welfare

How might the public contribute to the discussion on cattle welfare? Perspectives of veterinarians and animal scientists

All Creatures Great and Small: A Review and Typology of Employee-Animal Interactions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About