title: Identifying management and disease priorities of Canadian dairy industry stakeholders.
abstract: The objective of this study was to identify the key management and disease issues affecting the Canadian dairy industry. An online questionnaire (FluidSurveys, http://fluidsurveys.com/) was conducted between March 1 and May 31, 2014. A total of 1,025 responses were received from across Canada of which 68% (n=698) of respondents were dairy producers, and the remaining respondents represented veterinarians, university researchers, government personnel, and other allied industries. Participants were asked to identify their top 3 management and disease priorities from 2 lists offered. Topics were subsequently ranked from highest to lowest using 3 different ranking methods based on points: 5-3-1 (5 points for first priority, 3 for second, and 1 for first), 3-2-1, and 1-1-1 (equal ranking). The 5-3-1 point system was selected because it minimized the number of duplicate point scores. Stakeholder groups showed general agreement with the top management issue identified as animal welfare and the number one health concern as lameness. Other areas identified as priorities were reproductive health, antibiotic use, bovine viral diarrhea, and Staphylococcus aureus mastitis with these rankings influenced by region, herd size, and stakeholder group. This is the first national comprehensive assessment of priorities undertaken in the Canadian dairy industry and will assist researchers, policymakers, program developers, and funding agencies make future decisions based on direct industry feedback.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. Electronic address: cbauman@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.affiliation: Department of Production Animal Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Barkema
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec J2S 7C6, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dubuc
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, C1A 4P3, Canada.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Keefe
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kelton
mesh_terms: D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D018634:Veterinarians
keywords: Canada; disease; management; priorities assessment; welfare