Papers and Research Briefs

Access the latest research findings from the FIELD team. Each report or set of findings is accompanied by a short summary for quick reference.

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Farmer understanding of and responses to endemic animal health and welfare issues

This paper explores the experience and expertise of cattle and sheep farmers in relation animal health and welfare management. The findings highlight the importance of difference between animal types (i.e., beef cattle, dairy cattle and sheep), which highlights the ‘complex’ and ‘multifactorial’ nature of animal health and welfare. Findings also reveal farmers are seeking, acquiring and sharing knowledge on practices related to the management of animal health however individual circumstance and context influence how this translates in practice.

The paper is accompanied by a more detailed summary of findings from the survey of 42 farmers in the north of England, focusing on how farmers manage BVD and lameness.

Paper: Exploring farmers’ understanding of and responses to endemic animal health and welfare issues

Report: First Farmer Survey Report

How much do consumers care?

This paper explores the relationship between consumer preferences for beef, milk, lamb and wool when product attributes are change in relation to farm anima health and welfare, and herd/flock sickness levels for BVD and lameness. Findings indicate that consumers care about farm animal health and welfare independently of the sickness level in the herd/flock, when sickness levels do not compromise the safety of the products consumed.

Read more here: How much do consumers care

Caring for diseased cattle and sheep

This paper explores what it means to care for cows and sheep affected by BVD and lameness, based on intensive social science research with farmers who keep cattle and sheep, and with those who advise them, including vets. It shows how ‘care’ can mean making tough decisions regarding culling some animals, and discusses similarities and differences between farmers’ and vets’ perspectives on dealing with diseased animals in complex farming situations.

Read more here: Caring for diseased cattle and sheep

Challenges of lameness management

This paper focuses on issues linked to changes in how lameness in cattle and sheep is managed on farms. Using evidence from social science research with farmers who keep cattle and sheep, and with others who work on farms in relation to lameness (including vets, foot trimmers and mobility scorers) it explores some relatively new interventions and technologies, and shows how they don’t always have the intended effects, and can produce some perverse outcomes.

Read more here: Challenges of lameness management

Past disease experience and attitudes to disease

This paper explores the relationship between past disease experience and current attitudes to disease avoidance using a mathematical "game theory" model. It starts by introducing a game in which players take the role of a farmer buying and selling cattle while trying to avoid disease. In each turn of the game, players must decide how much disease risk they are willing to accept. Exploring what would happen if all players base their decisions on past experience, we found that a farm's historical record of disease, and the health status of neighbouring farms, are significant factors determining their long-term ability to keep incidence low.

Cattle plague memorials

This article discusses memorials created by farmers to their livestock as a result of an epidemic of cattle plague of 1865-1867.

The article can be found on page 4 of Rural History Today: Cattle plague memorials

Changing shape of post-war British agriculture

This paper explores farm labour in post-Second World War British agriculture, in particular how post-war specialisation and standardisation impacted farm workers, and how farm labour was conceptualised. Changing policy, and a shift towards more commercial and mechanised farms led to two concepts of farm labour. The first as work/input efficient, quantifiable in standard man days. The second a continuing sense of stockmanship as skilled ‘labour’ as something qualitative, as a physical skill and as knowledge gained through education. Also as the vernacular knowledge of experience, expressed through practice and embodied in the relationship with the animals cared for (not just use of new technologies).

Read more here: The changing landscape of labour

Chambers of agriculture

This paper discusses the chambers of agriculture in Britain - bottom up initiatives introduced by landowners and larger tenant farmers. It covers their history and role within farming Britain over the 19th and 20th centuries.