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Abstract

Through semi-structured qualitative interviews with dairy farmers and cattle vets in Shropshire, this research project aims to gain an understanding of farmers’ and vets' opinions on the importance of Johne’s disease, along with management practices that are in place in order to try and manage the disease at farm level.

Description

Johne's disease is an endemic disease of cattle and sheep caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis. This research project investigates the management and control of the disease at farm level through gaining insights into the opinions and experiences of dairy farmers and vets in the West Midlands of England. Qualitative research methods from the social sciences are being increasingly used in veterinary medicine to elucidate the attitudes and behaviours of key actors in disease control.