Abstract

Swedish milk production has undergone a structural transformation over the past three decades. The number of farms has decreased by half each decade, while milk -producing herds have become larger. According to statistics from the Swedish Board of Agriculture (2022), the average number of cows in a herd was 27 in 1995, and in 2021, the average number of cows per herd has risen to 102. During the same period, the average milk production per cow has increased from 7319 kg ECM (energy corrected milk) to 11,009 kg ECM (VÄXA, 2022). Both better knowledge and increased production requirements have driven a substantial increase in milk yield. Farms have gone from family farms without employed staff to larger units with employed staff carrying out the daily work with the animals. The role of the farmer has changed from being the one who carried out all the day-to-day work with the animals to a person with new and expanded responsibilities (Hagevoort et al., 2013). This has not only happened in Swedish dairy farming but is also seen in an international perspective (Barkema et al., 2015). Structural change entails further changes that require greater advisory communication, as discussions which had previously only been between the farmer and the adviser must now also involve employed staff. The staff may have varying degrees of education, work experience, cultural background and language knowledge, contributing to a more complex counselling situation (Dockes et al., 2018). The implementation of the advice may be influenced by several factors, as far more people are involved in the process on the larger farms compared to dairy farms without employed staff. Factors influencing the implementation process can be of different nature such as different types of needs (expressed, inferred or unspoken), relationships between farmers and staff and the presence of different barriers. These new circumstances place new demands on advisory organisations with the changing conditions in dairy farming (Nettle et al., 2018). An extension situation frequently leads to a process of change, which often involves the employees' work with the animals. Durst et al., 2018 point to the importance of employees on a farm for a successful production. These persons are significant for the health and well-being of the animals (Hemsworth & Coleman, 1998). Seen from another point of view, the animals and their importance in work and for the employees' work situation is an area of research that lacks more profound knowledge (Hannah & Robertson, 2017). The aim of this study is to provide insight into the importance of animal- human relations from the perspective of the farmer and the employees based on their different roles. More specifically, this study explores how animal well-being affects farmers and employees; it strives to form an understanding of the factors important for the creation of conditions for animal well-being from a management perspective associated with communication and change processes.

Published in

Title: 26th ESEE Book of Abstracts
ISBN: 978-2-9589569-0-5
Publisher: ESEE

Conference

26th European Seminar on Extension & Education, “Sustainability transitions of agriculture and the transformation of education and advisory services: convergence or divergence?”, ESEE 2023, 10-13 July, 10-13 July, Toulouse, France

SLU Authors

• Axelsson, Louise

  • Department of People and Society, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17180/y125-rn04

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129121