RISK-FACTORS FOR BHV1 ON DAIRY FARMS - TH E PERCEPTION OF FARMERS ANDVETERINARIANS

A study is being carried out at Wageningen Agricultural University tog ether with, among others, the Animal Health Service to determine the p ossibilities and economic consequences of a more close farming system for (Dutch) dairy farms. Three identical workshops, held in the evenin g, were organized as part of the study. The opinion of farmers and the ir veterinarians on the importance of risk factors for the introductio n of diseases on a farm was determined, using Bovine Herpes Virus type 1 (BHV1) as an example. In total, 27 farmers and 13 veterinarians par ticipated in the workshops and completed a computerized questionnaire that was based on Adapted Conjoint Analysis (ACA). The results of the farmers and veterinarians were compared. Both farmers and veterinarian s seemed well aware of the risk of direct animal contacts for introduc tion of BHV1. Farmers thought visitors to be of more risk than veterin arians. By making use of information obtained from the ACA workshops, it will be possible to improve the advice given to different groups in the dairy sector.