Dairy farmers and their views on cow cleanliness: a qualitative study

Sammanfattning

The negative consequences of dirty dairy cattle are well known, as they affect both animal welfare and farm economics. Despite this, the prevalence of dirty cattle remains high in Sweden, with no decreasing trend. The aim of this project was to explore dairy farmers' awareness and opinions regarding the causes of dirtiness in cattle, as well as their attitudes toward preventive measures, in order to better understand knowledge, management practices, and decision-making at the farm level. Twenty-one Swedish dairy farmers voluntarily participated in semi-structured qualitative interviews conducted during February and March 2021. Overall, the farmers believed that all housing systems can be kept clean, although the level of work required varies. They recognized that inadequate housing design complicates management. The interviews highlighted the critical importance of effective cleaning routines, which farmers consistently identified as a key factor in maintaining dairy cow cleanliness.

Nyckelord

Dairy farmer; cattle; cleanliness; attitudes; animal welfare

Publicerad i

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Science
2025
Utgivare: TAYLOR AND FRANCIS LTD

SLU författare

• Andersson, Maria

  • Institutionen för tillämpad husdjursvetenskap och välfärd, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Hägglund, Kristin

  • Institutionen för kliniska vetenskaper, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Westin, Rebecka

  • Institutionen för tillämpad husdjursvetenskap och välfärd, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Lundmark Hedman, Frida

  • Institutionen för tillämpad husdjursvetenskap och välfärd, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

UKÄ forskningsämne

Husdjursvetenskap

Publikationens identifierare

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09064702.2025.2558213

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/143920