A qualitative Study: How Danish cattle veterinary Advisers perceive their Work with dairy Herd Health Management Programs

Background: Over the last four decades the field of dairy cattle production has changed significantly. Classical veterinary skills have been recommended to be integrated with skills such as communication, marketing, and farm economics in herd health management. Within the last six years, the law regarding veterinary herd health has changed in Denmark. Herd health management programs have been introduced and revised in 2006 and 2010. This has resulted in reduced call-on demand work for the veterinarian and more work framed by the herd health management programs. Thus, it seems reasonable to explore the veterinarian’s present perceptions on herd health management programs. This study aims to find and describe points of views among dairy herd health management veterinarians towards their work with the mandatory herd health program in Denmark, 2012. Results: Three points of views of veterinarians’ work with herd health management programs were found and labeled: 1) Co-operational, 2) Increased value and 3) Profitable welfare. All three points of views found the role of adviser and collaborator important. They also found communication with the farmer crucial to obtain success. Production and financial considerations were never put aside by any of the veterinarians.