Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves
ABSTRACT: Both male and female calves that are not required in the dairy herd sometimes receive inadequate care on dairy farms. Veterinarians work with farmers to improve animal care, and farmers often view veterinarians as trusted advisors; however, little is known about the attitudes of veterinari...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Dairy Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222003678 |
| _version_ | 1818477850839220224 |
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| author | Jillian Hendricks Daniel M. Weary Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk |
| author_facet | Jillian Hendricks Daniel M. Weary Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk |
| author_sort | Jillian Hendricks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT: Both male and female calves that are not required in the dairy herd sometimes receive inadequate care on dairy farms. Veterinarians work with farmers to improve animal care, and farmers often view veterinarians as trusted advisors; however, little is known about the attitudes of veterinarians on surplus calves. This study investigated the perspectives of Canadian cattle veterinarians on the care and management of surplus calves, as well as how they view their role in improving care. We conducted 10 focus groups with a total of 45 veterinarians from 8 provinces across Canada. Recorded audio files were transcribed, anonymized, and coded using thematic analysis. We found that veterinarians approached surplus calf management issues from a wide lens, with 2 major themes emerging: (1) problematic aspects of surplus calf management, including colostrum management, transportation, and euthanasia, and suggested management and structural solutions, including ways to improve the economic value of these calves, and (2) the veterinarian's role in advising dairy farmers on the care of surplus calves, including on technical issues, and more broadly working with farmers to better address public concerns. We conclude that veterinarians are concerned about the care of surplus calves on dairy farms and believe that they have an important role in developing solutions together with their farmer clientele. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:41:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-100a7f02f67e4653bf0964a9de20cf20 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-0302 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T09:41:55Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Dairy Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-100a7f02f67e4653bf0964a9de20cf202022-12-22T01:53:58ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022022-08-01105868706879Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calvesJillian Hendricks0Daniel M. Weary1Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk2Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z6, CanadaAnimal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z6, CanadaCorresponding author; Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z6, CanadaABSTRACT: Both male and female calves that are not required in the dairy herd sometimes receive inadequate care on dairy farms. Veterinarians work with farmers to improve animal care, and farmers often view veterinarians as trusted advisors; however, little is known about the attitudes of veterinarians on surplus calves. This study investigated the perspectives of Canadian cattle veterinarians on the care and management of surplus calves, as well as how they view their role in improving care. We conducted 10 focus groups with a total of 45 veterinarians from 8 provinces across Canada. Recorded audio files were transcribed, anonymized, and coded using thematic analysis. We found that veterinarians approached surplus calf management issues from a wide lens, with 2 major themes emerging: (1) problematic aspects of surplus calf management, including colostrum management, transportation, and euthanasia, and suggested management and structural solutions, including ways to improve the economic value of these calves, and (2) the veterinarian's role in advising dairy farmers on the care of surplus calves, including on technical issues, and more broadly working with farmers to better address public concerns. We conclude that veterinarians are concerned about the care of surplus calves on dairy farms and believe that they have an important role in developing solutions together with their farmer clientele.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222003678qualitative methodsveterinary attitudesanimal welfaredairy productionbobby calves |
| spellingShingle | Jillian Hendricks Daniel M. Weary Marina A.G. von Keyserlingk Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves Journal of Dairy Science qualitative methods veterinary attitudes animal welfare dairy production bobby calves |
| title | Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves |
| title_full | Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves |
| title_fullStr | Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves |
| title_full_unstemmed | Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves |
| title_short | Veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves |
| title_sort | veterinarian perceptions on the care of surplus dairy calves |
| topic | qualitative methods veterinary attitudes animal welfare dairy production bobby calves |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030222003678 |
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