Pig farmers’ perceptions, attitudes, influences and management of information in the decision-making process for disease control

The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the factors involved in the decision-making process used by pig farmers for disease control and (2) to investigate pig farmers’ attitudes and perceptions about different information sources relating to disease control. In 2011 a qualitative study involving 20 face-to-face interviews with English pig farmers was conducted. The questionnaire was composed of three parts. The first part required farmers to identify two diseases they had experienced and which were difficult to recognize and/or control. They were asked to report how the disease problem was recognized, how the need for control was decided, and what affected the choice of control approach. For the latter, a structure related to the Theory of Planned Behaviour was used. Their verbal responses were classified as associated with: (1) attitude and beliefs, (2) subjective norms, or (3) perceived behavioural control (PBC). In the second part, five key sources of information for disease control (Defra, BPEX, research from academia, internet and veterinarians) and the factors related to barriers to knowledge were investigated. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. A qualitative analysis of the text of the interview transcripts was carried out using templates. Drivers for disease control were ‘pig mortality’, ‘feeling of entering in an economically critical situation’, ‘animal welfare’ and ‘feeling of despair’. Veterinarians were perceived by several participating farmers as the most trusted information source on disease control. However, in particular non-sustainable situations, other producers, and especially experiences from abroad, seemed to considerably influence the farmers’ decision-making. ‘Lack of knowledge’, ‘farm structure and management barriers’ and ‘economic constrains’ were identified in relation to PBC. Several negative themes, such as ‘lack of communication’, ‘not knowing where to look’, and ‘information bias’ were associated with research from academia. This study identified a range of factors influencing the decision-making process for disease control by pig farmers. In addition, it highlighted the lack of awareness and difficult access of producers to current scientific research outputs. The factors identified should be considered when developing communication strategies to disseminate research findings and advice for disease control

Light emitting diode (LED) color and broiler growth: effect of supplementing blue/green LED to white LED light on broiler growth, stress, and welfare

Light emitting diode (LED) lighting provides an affordable lighting option for use in commercial poultry production. However, more information is needed to understand the effects of LED color on broiler welfare and growth. Five consecutive flocks (1 in summer, 1 in fall, 2 in winter, and 1 in spring) of straight run Ross 708 × Ross 708 broilers were reared in commercial type barns for 45 D. For white only (WO) treatment, birds were reared under white LED only (Agrishift MLB). For white supplemented (WS) treatment, birds were reared under white LED (Agrishift MLB) in the center aisle, with supplemental blue/green LED lighting (Agrishift MLBg) above the feed and water lines on either side of the barn. Each barn housed 26,200 chicks, and there were 2 barns in each treatment (n = 52,400/treatment). Treatments were rotated among barns between each flock. On day 45, blood samples were collected from 20 birds/barn (n = 40/treatment) to assess the plasma corticosterone (CORT) level and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. On day 45, 100 birds/barn (n = 200/treatment) were weighed individually and assigned scores for hock burn and foot pad dermatitis. All measures were affected by trial (P \u3c 0.001). Plasma CORT and body weight were affected by the treatment × trial interaction (P ≤ 0.001). Overall, birds in the WS treatment had higher day 45 live body weight (P \u3c 0.001) and lower hock burn scores (P = 0.032) than birds in the WO treatment. Birds in the WS treatment had higher day 45 body weight overall (P \u3c 0.001) and in trials 1, 3, and 5, although the overall body weight was lower in trials 1, 3, and 5 than in trials 2 and 4. Supplemental blue/green LED improved hock burn scores and increased overall day 45 body weight. However, trial differences suggest that more data are needed to determine whether supplementing blue/green LED to white LED improves body weight gain in mixed sex broiler chickens

Comparison of an intermittent, short-dawn/dusk photoperiod with an increasing, long-dawn/dusk photoperiod on broiler growth, stress, and welfare

Photoperiod has been shown to significantly affect broiler performance. However, the effects of the traditional 1-min dimming period on broiler growth and welfare are unclear. In this study, 4 consecutive trials were conducted to compare the effects of an intermittent, short-dawn/dusk photoperiod (ISD) to an increasing, long-dawn/dusk photoperiod (ILD) on broiler growth, stress, and welfare. Straight run day-of-hatch Ross 708 × Ross 708 broilers were placed in 1 of 4 commercial broiler barns (2 b of 26,200 birds each per treatment) and grown to 45 D of age. The photoperiod in the ISD treatment consisted of 24L:0D day 0 to 6, 16L:8D day 7 to 13, 12L:4D:2L:6D day 14 to 20, 12L:4D:3L:5D day 21 to 27, 12L:4D:4L:4D day 28 to 41, and 13L:3D:5L:3D day 42 to 45, with a 1-min transition between light and dark periods. The photoperiod in the ILD treatment consisted of 23L:1D day 0 to 7, 16L:8D day 8 to 21, 18L:6D day 22 to 32, and 20L:4D day 33 to 45, with a 1-min light/dark transition period day 0 to 7 and a 30-min transition period day 8 to 45. Treatments were rotated among the barns between trials. On day 45, blood samples were collected from 20 birds/barn (n = 40/treatment) to assess plasma corticosterone (CORT) and heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio. One hundred birds per barn (n = 200/treatment) were weighed individually and assigned scores for hock burn, foot pad dermatitis, and feather condition on day 45. Trial differences were observed for all measures (P ≤ 0.001). Birds in the ISD treatment were heavier on day 45 (P \u3c 0.001) and had lower hock burn (P = 0.044) and foot pad dermatitis (P \u3c 0.001) scores. Birds in the ILD treatment had lower plasma CORT (P \u3c 0.001) and H/L ratio (P \u3c 0.001). No treatment differences were observed for feather condition (P \u3e 0.05). Overall, birds reared under the intermittent, short-dawn/dusk photoperiod had higher day 45 live body weights and lower hock burn and foot pad dermatitis scores, whereas those reared under the increasing, long-dawn/dusk photoperiod had reduced measures of short-term and long-term stress

Exploring knowledge, perception of risk and biosecurity practices among researchers in the UK: a quantitative survey

Accidental introduction and/or spread of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) can result from a range of activities including agriculture, transport, trade and recreation. Researchers represent an important group of stakeholders who undertake activities in the field that could potentially facilitate the spread of INNS. Biosecurity is key to preventing the introduction and spread of INNS. Risk perceptions are a fundamental component in determining behaviour, so understanding how researchers perceive the risks associated with their activities can help us understand some of the drivers of biosecurity behaviour in the field. The aim of this study was to investigate researchers’ perceptions of risk in relation to their field activities and whether risk perceptions influenced behaviour. We gathered quantitative data on perceptions of risk and biosecurity practices using an online questionnaire. Only 35% of all respondents considered their field activities to pose some risk in terms of spreading INNS. Higher risk perception was found in those who undertook high risk activities or where INNS were known/expected to be present. However, whilst respondents with experience of INNS were more likely to report consciously employing biosecurity in the field, this did not translate into better actual biosecurity practices. Awareness of biosecurity campaigns did in fact increase perception of risk, perceived and actual biosecurity behaviour. However, there remains a disconnect between reported and actual biosecurity practices, including a lack of understanding about what constitutes good biosecurity practice. These findings should be used to improve targeted awareness raising campaigns and help create directed training on biosecurity practices

How Farm Workers Learn to Use and Practice Biosecurity

Biosecurity is any practices, policies, or procedures employed on a farm to prevent and/or control disease entering a farm, or moving around a farm. Using Grounded Theory methodology, the study reported here investigated biosecurity use among workers at finfish recirculation aquaculture facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Farm workers learned to use and continually practice biosecurity through a three-phase, step-wise process of orientation, routine, and thoughtful approach. Certain elements in the work environment and different characteristics of the individual worker influenced the worker\u27s practice of biosecurity on a farm. The findings are relevant to biosecurity practice in all livestock-farming industries

How Farm Workers Learn to Use and Practice Biosecurity

Biosecurity is any practices, policies, or procedures employed on a farm to prevent and/or control disease entering a farm, or moving around a farm. Using Grounded Theory methodology, the study reported here investigated biosecurity use among workers at finfish recirculation aquaculture facilities in the U.S. and Canada. Farm workers learned to use and continually practice biosecurity through a three-phase, step-wise process of orientation, routine, and thoughtful approach. Certain elements in the work environment and different characteristics of the individual worker influenced the worker\u27s practice of biosecurity on a farm. The findings are relevant to biosecurity practice in all livestock-farming industries

Biosecurity in the Recirculation Sector of Finfish Aquaculture in the United States and Canada

In aquaculture, biosecurity consists of policies, procedures and measures used to prevent or control the spread of fish disease. The focus of this research was the practice of biosecurity in the recirculation sector of finfish aquaculture in the United States and Canada. Specifically, this research: 1) identified and characterized finfish recirculation facilities in the United States and Canada; 2) assessed biosecurity utilization in these facilities; 3) examined the relationship between biosecurity utilization and fish culture variables; 4) examined the relationship between biosecurity utilization and socio-demographics of personnel operating these facilities; 5) described the attitudes, perceptions and beliefs about fish disease and biosecurity utilization of personnel, and 6) described the lived-experience of biosecurity practice of workers at these facilities. This research was comprised of two separate components using different methodologies. The first component was a self-administered, mail-back questionnaire sent to the managers of 152 finfish recirculation facilities in the United States and Canada in fall of 2001. The second component was a series of in-depth interviews conducted with 31 workers at 12 salmonid recirculation facilities in spring of 2002. Grounded theory methodology was used for the interview process and subsequent data analysis for the second component. An 86% response rate was achieved in the mail survey. Aquaculture activities using recirculation technologies were quite varied in purpose of operation, size of production, and life stages held. Four groups of fishes dominated the recirculation sector and constituted the primary production of over 45% of this sector of aquaculture. This sector was heavily reliant on ground water resources. Forty-one percent of finfish recirculation facilities did not have a secondary source of water supply. Biosecurity utilization is not homogenous within the recirculation sector. Frequency of biosecurity utilization was related to primary water source, type of fish grown, purpose of the operation and country of operation. Biosecurity was an important concern of facility operators, although among facility operators there were differences in perception of disease risk and benefits of biosecurity utilization. Analysis of results of this study resulted in formulation of the Practice of Biosecurity Theory (PBT). The theory describes a three-phase process in the practice of biosecurity: (1) orientation, when workers begin their initiation into the practice of biosecurity; (2) routine, when practice of biosecurity becomes a habitual behavior; and (3) thoughtful approach, where knowledge of fish health needs and biosecurity practices are integrated into a repertoire of biosecurity strategies that are situation- and site-specific. The practice of biosecurity was affected by three environmental conditions; personal biography, management's role, and peer pressure. This research gives educators, extension agents, researchers and government policy-makers a quantitative description of finfish recirculation aquaculture in the United States and Canada. It also provides baseline information on biosecurity utilization in recirculation aquaculture. This research provides insight into the human dimensions aspect of the practice of biosecurity and, therefore, may have application to other areas of agri-business.Ph. D

A 360° View of Non-Traditional University Presidents

Institutions of higher learning continue to face many challenges, from declining revenues and increased costs (Fain, 2008) to lack of confidence in their ability to meet the needs of the students and the society they serve (Smith, 2004). At the center of the institution is its CEO: the president. It is in this office and at this person that the buck stops. It is here where decisions are made that will affect the institution and all of its constituencies. As the literal and symbolic leader, the vitality of a given institution is dependent upon the effectiveness of its president (Rhodes, 1998). Yet, it is not uncommon to have hundreds of presidential positions in higher education open in any given year (Alton & Dean, 2002), and institutional governing boards are continually faced with the daunting task of searching for, and selecting, these important leaders

Proving a ‘pattern of behaviour’: Queensland’s coercive control (civil protection) reforms in practice

On 1 August 2023, changes to the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 (Qld) (DFVP Act) came into effect in Queensland, including the introduction of ‘pattern of behaviour’ into the meaning of domestic violence (DV). This change was implemented as a result of system-wide recommendations made by the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce in the Hear Her Voice – Report 1 to address coercive control and domestic and family violence (DFV) in Queensland. One recommendation included the need for police, lawyers and the courts to better understand DFV as a pattern of behaviour that occurs over time in the context of a relationship as a whole (Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce, 2021). The inclusion of a ‘pattern of behaviour’ in the DFVP Act means that victim-survivors (survivors) of DFV can seek protection from the compounding behaviours of an abusive partner, family member or informal carer (users of violence ) under Queensland’s civil protection regime. Rather than rely on single incidents of abuse (such as physical violence) to demonstrate DFV, survivors can point to an accumulation of behaviours that seek to abuse, threaten, coerce or cause them to be fearful. However, proving a ‘pattern of behaviour’ can be complex, requires time and may come at a cost (both financial and emotional) to survivors. This practitioner paper explores these issues in the context of our practical experience assisting survivors of DFV with private applications for protection orders within the DV civil protection regime in Queensland

A 360° View of Non-Traditional University Presidents

Institutions of higher learning continue to face many challenges, from declining revenues and increasedcosts (Fain, 2008) to lack of confidence in their ability to meet the needs of the students and the societythey serve (Smith, 2004). At the center of the institution is its CEO: the president. It is in this office andat this person that the buck stops. It is here where decisions are made that will affect the institution andall of its constituencies. As the literal and symbolic leader, the vitality of a given institution is dependentupon the effectiveness of its president (Rhodes, 1998). Yet, it is not uncommon to have hundreds ofpresidential positions in higher education open in any given year (Alton &amp; Dean, 2002), and institutionalgoverning boards are continually faced with the daunting task of searching for, and selecting, theseimportant leaders.</jats:p