Factors influencing inducing decision-making in dairy cows: a case study of scientists' and producers' views.

摘要

The purpose of this investigation was to identify and describe the on-farm decision-making context of dairy farmers when they decide to induce dairy cows. A social researcher facilitated the meetings between a Waikato dairy farmer and two collaborating groups, to gather and record data regarding on-farm induced parturition decision-making over a year. These sessions took place at times when decision-making would impact most on induction. Cognitive mapping was used to capture the context within which decision-making in connection with inducing dairy cows took place. The following main conclusions were made: a long term perspective of induction is required; the induction decision-maker does not have control over all the factors that influence induction but could foresee and manage several of them by appropriately using applicable records; cow condition plays a critical role; the focus farmer had a much more straightforward view than scientists of induction and viewed it on a time line; decision-making with regards to inducing cows is a continuous process and capturing it requires a systems perspective; the interactions between different factors that influence induction become more apparent and more obvious to participants when these factors were made visual through the cognitive mapping technique.