Understanding Farmers' Behavior and Their Decision-Making Process in the Context of Cattle Diseases: A Review of Theories and Approaches

Understanding farmers' behavior regarding disease control is essential to successfully implement behavior change interventions that improve uptake of best practices. A literature review was conducted to identify theoretical underpinnings, analytical methodologies, and key behavioral determinants that have been described to understand farmers' behavior in disease control and prevention on cattle farms. Overall, 166 peer-reviewed manuscripts from studies conducted in 27 countries were identified. In the past decade, there were increasing reports on farmers' motivators and barriers, but no indication of application of appropriate social science methods. Furthermore, the majority (58%) of reviewed studies lacked a theoretical framework in their study design. However, when a theoretical underpinning was applied, the Theory of Planned Behavior was most commonly used (14% of total). The complexity of factors impacting farmers' behavior was illustrated when mapping all described key constructs of the reviewed papers in behavior change frameworks, such as the socioecological framework and the Capability, Opportunity and Motivation Behavior (COM-B) model. Constructs related to personal influences and relationships between farmers and veterinarians were overrepresented, whereas constructs related to other interpersonal and contextual environments were not extensively studied. There was a general lack of use of validated scales to measure constructs and empirically validated theoretical frameworks to understand and predict farmers' behavior. Furthermore, studies mainly focused on measurements of intention of stakeholder behavior rather than actual behavior, although the former is a poor predictor of the latter. Finally, there is still a lack of robust evidence of behavior change interventions or techniques that result in a successful change in farmers' behavior. We concluded that for a sustainable behavior change, studies should include wider constructs at individual, interpersonal, and contextual levels. Furthermore, the use of empirically validated constructs and theoretical frameworks is encouraged. By using coherent frameworks, researchers could link constructs to design interventions, and thereby take the first step toward theory-driven, evidence-based interventions to influence farmers' behavior for disease control.

Monitoring of the bovine digestive diseases on the Transbaikal territory

The dynamics of digestive diseases of bacterial etiology among cattle are presented. Statistical, laboratory and annual average data on registered animals with this pathology, mortality and forced slaughter of livestock were analysed for the period 2016-2020. It has been found that digestive diseases of bacterial etiology are prevalent both in young cattle (53.7% to 61.4%) and in adult cattle (43.1% of the total number of diseased animals). The following pathogens were identified on the basis of bacterial tests on biological material: enteropathogenic E. coli (37.8% of the total number of diseased animals) and group D streptococci, E. Faecalis (15.1%). The rest of the herd had associated infections (19.2%) and non-contagious digestive diseases (27.9%). As a result of this monitoring, a high incidence of digestive diseases among cattle in livestock farms in the following districts of the Trans-Baikal Territory was recorded: Akshinsky, Krasnochikoysky, Kyrinsky, Nerchinsky, Olovyaninsky, Priargunsky, Khiloksky, Shelopuginsky, Aginsky. The lowest prevalence of cattle diseases in organizations of various forms of ownership has been recorded in peasant farms in the region (6.8-10.9%). The average number of registered animals with this pathology is recorded in agricultural organizations (26.9-37.6%). A high percentage of these diseases were recorded in households (62.8%). When farms follow the organization of therapeutic and prophylactic measures, housing and feeding hygiene rules, it is possible to ensure the safety and productivity of livestock, high quality and safety of livestock products and to prevent bacterial diseases of the digestive organs.

Application of Methods to Assess Animal Welfare and Suffering Caused by Infectious Diseases in Cattle and Swine Populations

Control of infectious diseases in livestock has often been motivated by food safety concerns and the economic impact on livestock production. However, diseases may also affect animal welfare. We present an approach to quantify the effect of five infectious diseases on animal welfare in cattle (three diseases) and pigs (two diseases). We grouped clinical manifestations that often occur together into lists of clinical entities for each disease based on literature reviews, and subsequently estimated “suffering scores” based on an aggregation of duration, frequency, and severity. The duration and severity were based on literature reviews and expert knowledge elicitation, while frequency was based mainly on estimates from the literature. The resulting suffering scores were compared to scores from common welfare hazards found under Danish conditions. Most notably, the suffering scores for cattle diseases were ranked as: bovine viral diarrhoea and infection with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis > infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, and for pigs as: porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome > Aujeszky’s disease. The approach has limitations due to the limited data available in literature and uncertainties associated with expert knowledge, but it can provide decision makers with a tool to quantify the impact of infections on animal welfare given these uncertainties.

Determinant Factors for Cattle Insurance as a Risk Management Strategy

Cattle farmers in Gunungkidul Regency face several cattle diseases such as Helminthiasis, Anthrax, Downer Cow Syndrome, and Intoxication in which these diseases mostly attack female cows. To prevent financial loss for the farmers, the government facilitates them with cattle insurance. This study aims to determine the reasons and the cattle farmers’ willingness-to-pay for the cattle insurance by conducting a survey addressed to 100 cattle farmers and identifying the factors related to it. This study used a Contingent Valuation Method in estimating the cattle farmer's WTP. The various factors that influence the farmer's WTP were analyzed by using natural logarithm regression models. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the willingness-to-pay for cattle farmers who did not participate in cattle insurance are 22,600 IDR and farmers who participate in cattle insurance are 36,320 IDR. Education, household income, and farmers’ interest in the insurance were positively effecting toward the farmers' willingness-to-pay. However, age and the number of families showed the negative ones toward the farmers’ willingness-to-pay.