Veterinary Education

Malaysian fruit bats phylogeny inferred using ribosomal RNA. Ryan, J.R., K.H.G. Andy, V.K. Jayaraj, Y. Esa, A.A. Sallehin and Abdullah, M.T. 2008. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science 31(1):107-117. (SCOPUS-Cited Publication).

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Fourteen species of the Malaysian fruit bats (Pteropodidae) were used in this DNA taxonomy using 1,334bp of the 12S... more Fourteen species of the Malaysian fruit bats (Pteropodidae) were used in this DNA taxonomy using 1,334bp of the 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA) valine and 16S rRNA gene segments. Previous studies using DNA found contradictions between morphology and molecular data in inferring the phylogeny of the fruit bats proposed by Andersen (1912). Our phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining and the maximum parsimony methods did not support the monophyly of the subfamily Macroglossinae and the cynopterine group of the subfamily Pteropodinae as proposed by classical taxonomists. This is congruent with previous molecular studies. Here, we provide the first registered 12S rRNA, tRNA valine and 16S rRNA sequence records for Dyacopterus spadiceus in the GenBank database. This study represents the first attempt to infer the phylogenetic relationship of fruit bats from Malaysia using molecular methods.

Husbandary and Veterinary care of Sumatran rhinoceros in Zoo Melaka. 1990

by M.T. Abdullah, PhD

Mastitis and farmer mindset. Towards effective communication strategies to improve udder health management on Dutch Dairy farms

by Jolanda Jansen

PhD thesis Jolanda Jansen

PhD on effective communication strategies to improve udder health on dairy farms in The Netherlands.
Thesis... more PhD on effective communication strategies to improve udder health on dairy farms in The Netherlands.
Thesis entitled: 'Mastitis and farmer mindset. Towards effective communication strategies to improve udder health management on Dutch dairy farms.'
Developed campaigns and educational tools contributed to a change in dairy farmers’ knowledge, attitude and behavior and to an improvement of udder health. Results are published in leading scientific journals and are presented on many international conferences.


Copies available on request.

The PhD project was executed at the Communication Science Department, Wageningen University, the Netherlands (WUR). Financed by the Dutch Udder Health Centre (UGCN) in cooperation with the Dutch Dairy Board (NZO), Federation of Farmers’ Organizations (LTO) and the Dutch Animal Health Service Ltd. (GD Deventer).

Evaluation of two communication strategies to improve udder health management.

by Jolanda Jansen

Jansen, J., Renes, R.J., Lam, T.J.G.M., 2010. Evaluation of two communication strategies to improve udder health management. Journal of Dairy Science, 93: 604-612

Worldwide, programs to improve udder health are
implemented using communication tools and methods
that... more Worldwide, programs to improve udder health are
implemented using communication tools and methods
that inform and persuade dairy farmers. This study
evaluated 2 communication strategies used in a mastitis
control program in the Netherlands. To improve farmers’
udder health management, tools such as instruction
cards, treatment plans, checklists and software were
developed following an argument-based comprehensive
“central route.” These tools were used during on-farm
study group meetings for farmers organized by veterinarians
and also during individual veterinarian–farmer
interactions. The second strategy aimed at adopting
a single management practice to increase the use of
milking gloves during milking. This approach followed
a straightforward “peripheral” route that used implicit
persuasion techniques. Results of an online survey of
374 Dutch dairy farmers showed that most farmers were
able and willing to use the educational management
tools to increase udder health on their farms. They
evaluated the tools positively regardless of the mastitis
problems on their farms. This seems to indicate that
the central route of communication is most effective
when farmers are motivated to work on udder health in
general. Results of repeated random telephone surveys
before, during, and after the campaign on the use of
milking gloves showed that the use of gloves increased
from 20.9 to 42.0% of the respondents. Respondents’
opinions about milking gloves also changed favorably,
indicating that a relatively short peripheral campaign
on a single action can have a sustained effect on farmers’
behavior. Both communication strategies seem to
be potentially successful in disseminating knowledge to
a specific target group of farmers and in changing that
group’s behavior. However, to reach as many farmers as
possible, the strategies should be combined. When optimizing
these strategies, both the farmers’ motivation
to work on udder health and the aim of the campaign
should be considered. When aiming to improve general
udder health management, the central route seems to
be effective if farmers are already motivated to optimize
their udder health management. For farmers who are
less motivated to work on udder health, the peripheral
route seems to be most effective when aiming to change
a single management practice. The evaluated communication
strategies are examples of how management
practices to control mastitis can be effectively communicated
to farmers. As such, this study contributes
to optimizing future programs to control and prevent
diseases.

Debunking the myth of the hard-to-reach farmer: effective communication on udder health

by Jolanda Jansen

Jansen, J., Steuten, C.D.M., Renes, R.J., Aarts, N., Lam, T.J.G.M. 2010. Debunking the myth of the hard-to-reach farmer: effective communication on udder health. Journal of Dairy Science, 93: 1296-1306

Worldwide, programs to control mastitis are implemented using different strategies to reach farmers. Even though... more Worldwide, programs to control mastitis are implemented using different strategies to reach farmers. Even though education materials and best practices may be technically optimal, they need to be used to be successful. Thus, effective communication with farmers is essential in order to change their behavior and to improve their farm management. During a Dutch national mastitis control program, a substantial number of farmers seemed to be hard to reach with information on udder health. Consequently, this study was designed to provide insight into the attitude and motivation of such farmers. In the period of October 2007 to July 2008, 24 in-depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with farmers whose veterinarians considered to be difficult to approach with advice on udder health management (8 practices, 3 farmers from each practice). The interviews included questions about the farms and the farmers, their attitude and behavior regarding mastitis, and their information sources and social environment. The results show that so-called hard-to-reach farmers were not always badly informed about udder health and did not always experience problems with mastitis. These ostensibly unreachable farmers were not a homogeneous group, but rather could be divided into 4 categories based on their trust in external information sources regarding mastitis and their orientation toward the outside world: proactivists, do-it-yourselfers, wait-and-see-ers, and reclusive traditionalists. There are ample opportunities to reach hard-to-reach farmers, provided that the communication strategies are tailored to their specific needs. There is especially much to gain in communication with do-it-yourselfers and wait-and-see-ers, but this demands a more proactive role on the part of veterinarians and extension specialists. Different types of farmers need to be approached in different ways and through different channels with information on udder health. Consequently, this study can contribute to the optimization of future programs designed to control and prevent diseases.

Explaining mastitis incidence: The influence of farmers’ attitudes and behaviour

by Jolanda Jansen

Jansen, J., Van den Borne, B.H.P., Renes, R.J., Van Schaik, G., Lam, T.J.G.M., Leeuwis, C., 2009. Explaining mastitis incidence: The influence of farmers’ attitudes and behaviour. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 92: 210-223.

When mastitis incidence increases, either infection pressure has increased or cows’ resistance has decreased. This... more When mastitis incidence increases, either infection pressure has increased or cows’ resistance has decreased. This usually indicates that farm management is not optimal. Numerous quantitative studies have demonstrated the effect of management practices on mastitis. In most of these studies, the identified risk factors could explain only part of the variance in mastitis incidence on farms. Several studies suggest that the unexplained variance is caused by farmers’ attitudes towards different aspects of mastitis treatment and preventive behaviour. This study aims to determine, to quantify and to specify the extent to which farmers’ attitudes, over and above farmers’ behaviour, are factors that explain the variation in mastitis incidence, measured in terms of the quantifiable effect of management factors.

An extensive survey on self-reported attitudes, behaviour and mastitis incidence was conducted on 336 Dutch dairy farms. Results of multiple linear regression analyses show that farmers’ self-reported behaviour and attitudes together explain 48%, 31% and 23% of the variation within, respectively, the average farm bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC), the clinical mastitis incidence and the combined clinical and subclinical mastitis incidence. Both behaviour and attitudes explain part of the variance. However, most of the variance in all three dependant measures is explained solely by the attitude variables.

The variation in BMSCC value is best explained by (1) farmers’ normative frame of reference about mastitis, (2) farmers’ perceptions about the control of mastitis and (3) the perceived effect of a BMSCC penalty level. The variation in clinical mastitis is best explained by farmers’ perceptions about mastitis control. The variation in the combined clinical and subclinical mastitis incidence rate is best explained by the perceived effect of a BMSCC penalty level and the frequency of contact with others.

The results of this study show that farmers’ attitudes are a better measure than farmers’ self-reported behaviour to explain and predict differences in mastitis incidence between farms. Consequently, future research and animal health promotion programs should take into account not only farmers’ behaviour, but also farmers’ attitudes. This study provides a first empirical investigation into the social processes applicable to mastitis incidence and is therefore considered a good starting point for future research to further investigate the causal effect of attitude change on farmers’ behaviour and animal health.

The effect of a national mastitis control program on the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior of farmers in the Netherlands

by Jolanda Jansen

Over the years, much effort has been put into implementing
mastitis control programs in herds. To further more Over the years, much effort has been put into implementing
mastitis control programs in herds. To further
improve utilization of such programs, there needs to be
an understanding of the attitudes, knowledge, and behavior
of farmers regarding udder health, and the way
this can be influenced by mastitis control programs.
This study aimed to explore the effect of a national
mastitis control program on Dutch farmers’ attitudes,
knowledge, and behavior regarding mastitis. A total
of 378 dairy farmers completed a survey on attitudes,
knowledge, and behavior regarding mastitis before the
start of a national mastitis control program in 2004,
and 204 completed a similar survey in the final year
of the program (2009). Although the average annual
bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) remained the
same, the farmers’ self-reported attitudes, knowledge,
and behavior changed significantly. The problem level
of BMSCC decreased from 285,000 cells/mL in 2004 to
271,000 cells/mL in 2009. More farmers perceived that
they had sufficient knowledge about the prevention of
mastitis (34% in 2004 vs. 53% in 2009) and they more
often perceived that they knew the cause of a mastitis
problem (25% in 2004 vs. 37% in 2009). The use of
gloves for milking increased from 15 to 46%, the use of
a standardized mastitis treatment protocol increased
from 7 to 34%, and freestalls were cleaned more often
(2.28 vs. 2.51 times/d) in 2009 compared with 2004.
Most changes in attitudes, knowledge, and behavior did
not differ between groups of dairy farmers whose herds
had an initially low (≤162,000 cells/mL), medium
(163,000 to 205,000 cells/mL), or high (>206,000 cells/
mL) BMSCC. The high BMSCC group significantly
decreased their annual BMSCC level by 15,000 cells/
mL. Regression analysis showed that the decrease in
BMSCC was associated with a change in farmers’ perceptions
(e.g., increased perceived knowledge about the
effect of the milking machine on mastitis) and with a
change in certain management practices (e.g., disinfecting
all teats after milking). The results showed that a
national mastitis control program affected the attitudes,
knowledge, and behavior of farmers regarding mastitis
and could contribute to udder health improvement in
the long term.

What veterinarians need to know about communication to optimise their role as advisors on udder health in dairy herds

by Jolanda Jansen

The veterinary practitioner is one of the most important advisors for farmers in the field of udder health. He or she... more The veterinary practitioner is one of the most important advisors for farmers in the field of udder health. He or she has the tools to improve udder health if farmers are motivated to do so. Many farmers think that udder health is important, but this does not always mean that management of mastitis is up to standard. Many veterinarians are of the opinion that they are unable to convince their clients of the possible profits to be gained from investing in management of mastitis. Something is required to bridge this gap. This article, based on data and experiences from The Netherlands, describes the communication issues that can be considered in order to improve the role of the veterinarian as advisor, to achieve better udder health. The outcome is beneficial for both farmers and veterinarians, the former for reasons of economics, welfare and ease of work; the latter because it creates extra, challenging work. It is concluded that the veterinary practitioner is in an ideal situation to advise and motivate farmers to improve udder health but, to do this, the means of communication need to take account of the different learning styles of farmers. The most important aspects of such communication are found to be a pro-active approach, personalisation of messages, providing a realistic frame of reference for the farmer, and use of the farmer's social environment. Importantly, all persons and organisations in a farmer's social environment should articulate the same message.

Essential veterinary education in wildlife and ecosystem health: a conservation medicine perspective

by Andres Gomez

OIE Scientific and Technical Review 28(2): 597-603

Educating the Veterinary Professional about Animal Welfare

by Jasmijn de Boo

Co-authored with Andrew Knight, while I was the Education Programmes Manager at the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA).

Published in ALTEX

For many years, animal welfare organisations have taken the lead in bringing about improvements in animal welfare, as... more For many years, animal welfare organisations have taken the lead in bringing about improvements in animal welfare, as well as help- ing to change attitudes towards animals. Unfortunately, the veterinary profession has often lagged behind in its support for reform. It is vital therefore that veterinary training includes a good grounding in animal welfare education. In 2003, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the University of Bristol launched the ‘Concepts in Animal Welfare Syllabus’ to assist with the teach- ing of animal welfare in veterinary faculties. The syllabus stimulates focused critical thinking on animal welfare issues.

"Concepts in animal welfare": a syllabus in animal welfare science and ethics for veterinary schools

by Jasmijn de Boo

Co-authored with Andrew Knight

Published in JVME

Public attitudes toward animal welfare have improved with growing social affluence, and veterinarians are increasingly... more Public attitudes toward animal welfare have improved with growing social affluence, and veterinarians are increasingly expected to be informed about animal welfare in a broader sense than health alone. However, animal welfare has not been a traditional component of the veterinary curriculum. To help address this lack, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the University of Bristol School of Veterinary Science launched the ‘‘Concepts in Animal Welfare’’ syllabus in 2003. This comprehensive syllabus comprises seven core and 23 elective modules and covers a range of animal welfare issues, including farm and companion animal welfare, wildlife, and the use of animals in experiments. There are also modules on ethics and animal legislation. The syllabus is interactive, promotes critical analysis of issues from different angles, and may be adapted for use in any veterinary curriculum. WSPA provides training and workshops in developing countries and assists with the implementation of the syllabus.