The Cutting Edge - Article 17 - Using Benchmarking to Promote Farmer-Vet Relationships

Operators To OWNERS

How benchmarking promotes farmer and veterinarian cooperation to improve calf welfare

Link: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(19)30910-5/fulltext

Big Take Away #1: The authors found in their pre-benchmarking interviews that while farmers ID’d the vet as having expertise on respiratory disease, diarrhea and pain management they did not as often see the vet as an information source for calf nutrition, growth or weaning.

Big Take Away #2: I’d urge every vet; whether students, associates and owners need to readjust their expectation that farmers will eventually recognize their expertise and potential advisory role. Instead it is our responsibility to create an environment that shows our expertise and change their mind. Because as Albert Einstein said; Insanity Is Doing the Same Thing Over and Over Again and Expecting Different Results…

Big Take Away #3: The author noted that benchmarking discussions did improve farmers understanding of the information; perhaps filling a different role for these clients as more of an educational tool rather than an on-boarding or social norm vehicle. The benchmarking also resulted in increased diagnostics performed by the vets; a positive for the farm in terms of getting answers and a positive for the clinic in terms of revenue. Clearly, we can see that even clients with the best farmer-vet relationships can still benefit from this type of benchmarking program.

Ultimate Message: Benchmarking of calf, and likely all farm data, with peer based data helped establish social norms, increased veterinary influence in the operation and enhanced the perceived value of vets as advisors in calf management. It also improved communication and interactions between farmers and vets on the topics of calf management.

How benchmarking promotes farmer and veterinarian cooperation to improve calf welfare

Published by C. L. Sumner, M. A. G. von Keyserlingk, D. M. Weary

Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia

Location: British Columbia

Objective: Understand how benchmarking measures related to calf immune development and growth affected farmer and veterinarian cooperation and influenced the farmer’s view of the veterinarian as an advisor for calf management.

Location: University of British Columbia

Methods Veterinarians provided their clients (n = 18 dairy farms in the lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia) with 2 benchmark reports providing information on transfer of passive immunity and calf growth. Farmers were interviewed before and after receiving these reports to understand how they perceived their veterinarian as a calf advisor.

Outcomes: Qualitative analysis identified 2 major themes indicating that benchmarking (1) improved farmer perception of their veterinarian's capacities to advise on calves and (2) strengthened the social influence of the veterinarian. We conclude that benchmarking can help promote stronger relationships between farmers and veterinarians.