Abstract #185
Section: Extension Education (orals)
Session: Extension Education I
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 2:30 PM–2:45 PM
Location: Room 301 E
Session: Extension Education I
Format: Oral
Day/Time: Monday 2:30 PM–2:45 PM
Location: Room 301 E
# 185
Producer perceptions of the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Animal Care Program.
Kayla A. Rink*1, Phillip J. Turk2, Shannon L. Archibeque-Engle3, Jason K. Ahola1, Joleen C. Hadrich4, Ivette N. Román-Muñiz1, 1Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 3Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 4Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Key Words: animal care, dairy producer, FARM
Producer perceptions of the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Animal Care Program.
Kayla A. Rink*1, Phillip J. Turk2, Shannon L. Archibeque-Engle3, Jason K. Ahola1, Joleen C. Hadrich4, Ivette N. Román-Muñiz1, 1Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 2Department of Statistics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 3Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 4Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
The National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Animal Care Program provides guidelines for farms producing 98% of the US milk supply. Producers who sell milk to co-ops or processors participating in FARM must follow animal care standards defined by the program’s technical writing group. Objectives of this study were to assess producers’ perceptions about knowledge, experience, value, and reasons for considering FARM important, and to determine if perceptions differ based on producer demographics. Producers from collaborating dairy co-ops and processors were recruited via electronic and postal mail. A total of 487 respondents from 40 states completed the survey. Of respondents, 50.0% identified dairy co-ops or processors as the main source of information about FARM, and 73.6% reported being knowledgeable about FARM. More formal education and larger herd size were correlated with greater producer knowledge (P < 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). More producer input in the revisions of FARM was identified as a need by 83.3% of respondents. While 89.3% of respondents reported positive experiences with evaluations and relationships with evaluators, 45.6% did not think that FARM has value overall. Females had a neutral impression of the value of the FARM program and males had a negative impression (P = 0.02). Greater respondent age was predictive of greater perceived value of FARM (P < 0.01). Age was significant in determining the reasons for considering FARM important (P < 0.01). Odds that respondents described FARM as important because it improved animal health and wellbeing over describing FARM as not important increased 7.2% (OR = 1.072; 95% OR CI: 1.024, 1.122) with each year of age. As age increased, respondents were more likely to describe FARM as important because it unified the dairy industry on animal welfare over describing FARM as not important (OR = 1.095; 95% OR CI: 1.029, 1.164). These results indicate that to increase buy-in and positive perceptions of producers, future versions of FARM should solicit producer input and target specific producer demographics for training and program promotion.
Key Words: animal care, dairy producer, FARM
