Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) is widely promoted in dairy farming as a method to reduce antimicrobial 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 significant infrastructural, behavioural and/or cultural change on their farm. Existing research has reported the important need to understand farmers’ motivations to initiate any substantial behaviour change. However, it is currently unknown what farmers 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 maximising the dry period udder health performance and moving safely to SDCT. 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 identified 6 barriers and 6 facilitators to implementing SDCT. A significant 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 influence were presented as barriers to SDCT. Farmers can build confidence 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 influences, peer influence can be utilised to encourage the farming community. 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.

中文翻译：

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参与选择性干奶牛疗法：了解爱尔兰农民认为的障碍和促进因素

选择性干奶牛疗法 (SDCT) 在奶牛养殖中被广泛推广，作为减少抗菌素使用的一种方法。欧盟出台的新立法将从 2022 年 1 月起限制和规范抗生素的预防性和半预防性使用。农场的重大基础设施、行为和/或文化变化。现有研究表明，了解农民发起任何实质性行为改变的动机非常重要。然而，目前尚不清楚爱尔兰农民对 SDCT 的了解、想法和信念。本研究的目的是使用定性方法来探索农民认为 SDCT 存在哪些障碍和促进因素，并探讨他们是否在自愿参加受过培训的兽医资助的干奶牛咨询后选择实施 SDCT，目的是最大限度地提高干奶期乳房健康表现和安全转移到 SDCT。在这项研究中，联系了 19 名农民，并就农民对 SDCT 后果​​的看法进行了电话采访。录音经过专业的逐字转录，并使用归纳主题分析进行定性分析。分析确定了实施 SDCT 的 6 个障碍和 6 个促进因素。对乳腺炎发病率增加的严重恐惧是显而易见的，这导致不愿接受 SDCT 和依赖抗生素。对 SDCT 的不同看法、基础设施限制、缺乏预防建议以及同行影响被认为是 SDCT 的障碍。实施 SDCT 分级方法后，农民可以建立信心，这有助于克服对 SDCT 的恐惧和对抗生素的依赖。发现监管压力、农场卫生的高标准和有针对性的兽医咨询的使用促进了 SDCT。建议通过教育来激励农民将来接受 SDCT。尽管引用了负面影响，但可以利用同伴影响来鼓励农业社区。本研究优先考虑促进乳制品行业从毯式干奶牛疗法转向 SDCT 所需的主要行为改变的领域。认为缺乏预防建议以及同伴影响被认为是 SDCT 的障碍。实施 SDCT 分级方法后，农民可以建立信心，这有助于克服对 SDCT 的恐惧和对抗生素的依赖。发现监管压力、农场卫生的高标准和有针对性的兽医咨询的使用促进了 SDCT。建议通过教育来激励农民将来接受 SDCT。尽管引用了负面影响，但可以利用同伴影响来鼓励农业社区。本研究优先考虑促进乳制品行业从毯式干奶牛疗法转向 SDCT 所需的主要行为改变的领域。认为缺乏预防建议以及同伴影响被认为是 SDCT 的障碍。实施 SDCT 分级方法后，农民可以建立信心，这有助于克服对 SDCT 的恐惧和对抗生素的依赖。发现监管压力、农场卫生的高标准和有针对性的兽医咨询的使用促进了 SDCT。建议通过教育来激励农民将来接受 SDCT。尽管引用了负面影响，但可以利用同伴影响来鼓励农业社区。本研究优先考虑促进乳制品行业从毯式干奶牛疗法转向 SDCT 所需的主要行为改变的领域。这有助于克服对 SDCT 的恐惧和对抗生素的依赖。发现监管压力、农场卫生的高标准和有针对性的兽医咨询的使用促进了 SDCT。建议通过教育来激励农民将来接受 SDCT。尽管引用了负面影响，但可以利用同伴影响来鼓励农业社区。本研究优先考虑促进乳制品行业从毯式干奶牛疗法转向 SDCT 所需的主要行为改变的领域。这有助于克服对 SDCT 的恐惧和对抗生素的依赖。发现监管压力、农场卫生的高标准和有针对性的兽医咨询的使用促进了 SDCT。建议通过教育来激励农民将来接受 SDCT。尽管引用了负面影响，但可以利用同伴影响来鼓励农业社区。本研究优先考虑促进乳制品行业从毯式干奶牛疗法转向 SDCT 所需的主要行为改变的领域。