Social research to understand farmer and agricultural stakeholder attitudes towards bovine tuberculosis vaccination of cattle

Maye, Damian ORCID: 0000-0002-4459-6630, Chivers, Charlotte-Anne ORCID: 0000-0003-3267-5558, Lenormand, Théo and Tomlinson, Sarah (2023) Social research to understand farmer and agricultural stakeholder attitudes towards bovine tuberculosis vaccination of cattle. Veterinary Record, 193 (7). e3166. doi:10.1002/vetr.3166

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Abstract

Background: This social research study employed a behavioural insights framework, Easy, Attractive, Social, Timely (‘EAST’), to identify cues that may influence farmer and stakeholder attitudes towards the deployment of Cattle BCG vaccine. Methods: The EAST framework was employed to develop policy scenarios consisting of several cues likely to affect vaccine uptake. These scenarios consisted of a government-led approach, an individual farmer-led approach, and a third approach, also farmer-led but organised collectively. The government approach was mandatory, while the farmer-led approaches were both voluntary. The scenarios were tested during farmer participatory workshops (n=8)and stakeholder interviews (n=35). Results: Overall, the EAST framework provided a useful approach for gathering behavioural insights around attitudes towards cattle vaccination. We found an overall receptiveness towards the idea of vaccinating cattle against bovine tuberculosis, particularly where clear, transparent messaging around the likely efficacy is mobilised, where clarity around potential implications for trading is provided, and where vaccine doses are provided free of charge and administered by veterinarians and veterinary technicians. In general, these factors were a pre-requisite to a mandatory (government-led) national approach, which was the preferred deployment mechanism among farmers and stakeholders. However, these conditions would also likely facilitate a voluntary vaccination programme. Limitations: Trust in those involved in delivering a vaccine programme and trust in the vaccine itself represent a crucial aspect of farmer and stakeholder attitudes towards cattle vaccination; however, this aspect was not covered by the EAST framework. Conclusion: EAST provided a novel framework for examining attitudes towards cattle vaccination with Cattle BCG, although we recommend incorporating a ‘trust’ component in future iterations.

Item Type:	Article
Article Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Bovine tuberculosis; bTB; EAST framework; CattleBCG vaccine
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) S Agriculture > SF Animal culture > SF 600 Veterinary medicine S Agriculture > SF Animal culture > SF 951 Diseases of special classes of animals
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Research Priority Areas:	Place, Environment and Community
Depositing User:	Bee Ray-Smallcalder
Date Deposited:	21 Jun 2023 09:42
Last Modified:	04 Jan 2024 16:57
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/12856

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