Engaging with selective dry cow therapy: understanding the barriers and facilitators perceived by Irish farmers

Abstract

Background: Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) is widely promoted in dairy farming as a method to reduce anti‑ microbial usage. New legislation introduced by the European Union will restrict and regulate the prophylactic and metaphylactic use of antibiotics from January 2022. Blanket dry cow therapy continues to be a practice engaged in by many farmers in Ireland and for many of these farmers, moving towards SDCT would require a signifcant infrastruc‑ tural, behavioural and/or cultural change on their farm. Existing research has reported the important need to under‑ stand farmers’ motivations to initiate any substantial behaviour change. However, it is currently unknown what farm‑ ers know, think and believe about SDCT in Ireland. The aim of this study was to use qualitative methods to explore what barriers and facilitators farmers perceived to exist with SDCT and explore if they had chosen to implement SDCT after voluntarily participating in a funded dry cow consult with a trained veterinarian, with the objective of maximis‑ ing the dry period udder health performance and moving safely to SDCT. Results: In this study, 19 farmers were contacted, and telephone interviews were conducted regarding farmers’ beliefs about the consequences of SDCT. Audio recordings were professionally transcribed verbatim and analysed qualitatively using an inductive thematic analysis. The analysis identifed 6 barriers and 6 facilitators to implement‑ ing SDCT. A signifcant fear of increasing mastitis incidence was evident that caused reluctance towards SDCT and reliance on antibiotics. Mixed perceptions on SDCT, infrastructure limitations, a perceived lack of preventive advice as well as peer infuence were presented as barriers to SDCT. Farmers can build confdence when a graded approach to SDCT is implemented, which could help overcome the fear of SDCT and reliance on antibiotics. Regulatory pressure, high standards of farm hygiene and use of targeted veterinary consults were found to facilitate SDCT. Education was suggested to motivate farmers in the future uptake of SDCT. Despite cited negative infuences, peer infuence can be utilised to encourage the farming community. Conclusions: This study prioritises areas to facilitate the major behaviour change required as a dairy industry in order to move from blanket dry cow therapy to SDCT. Keywords: Selective dry cow therapy, Farmer, Psychology, Behaviour change, CellCheck