Abstract
Veterinarians could be farmers’ sparring partners in reaching organic principles such as promoting animal
health and welfare, by exchanging and converting their knowledge into relevant management practices with
farmers. However, in the past, organic dairy farmers have not always considered veterinarians to be their
pertinent advisors. The objectives of this study are (from private veterinary practitioners’ point of views): (1)
to describe the roles of veterinarians today in organic dairy farmers’ animal health promotion strategies; (2)
to identify factors related to organic farming which determine that role; and (3) to identify opportunities for
improvement of veterinarians’ advisory services for these farms. Fourteen veterinarians were interviewed,
using qualitative semi-structured research interviews. A modified approach to Grounded Theory was used
for data collection and analysis. Many veterinarians had only contact with organic dairy farmers in cases of
individual ill animals or acute herd health problems. Even though certain veterinarians experienced animal
health and welfare situations and practices not meeting their standards, they were not always able to establish
themselves in an advisory role supporting farmers in improving this. Indeed, organic production principles,
regulations and farmers’ health approaches challenged veterinarians’ values on animal health and welfare and
their perceptions of ‘good veterinary practices’. Some veterinarians found that there was no direct economic
interest for them in the organic dairy sector and that could diminish their willingness to invest in this sector.
Opportunities for improvement were identified; propose proactively advice, adapt advisory services and/ or
dissociate veterinarians’ curative role from their advisory role in disease prevention
health and welfare, by exchanging and converting their knowledge into relevant management practices with
farmers. However, in the past, organic dairy farmers have not always considered veterinarians to be their
pertinent advisors. The objectives of this study are (from private veterinary practitioners’ point of views): (1)
to describe the roles of veterinarians today in organic dairy farmers’ animal health promotion strategies; (2)
to identify factors related to organic farming which determine that role; and (3) to identify opportunities for
improvement of veterinarians’ advisory services for these farms. Fourteen veterinarians were interviewed,
using qualitative semi-structured research interviews. A modified approach to Grounded Theory was used
for data collection and analysis. Many veterinarians had only contact with organic dairy farmers in cases of
individual ill animals or acute herd health problems. Even though certain veterinarians experienced animal
health and welfare situations and practices not meeting their standards, they were not always able to establish
themselves in an advisory role supporting farmers in improving this. Indeed, organic production principles,
regulations and farmers’ health approaches challenged veterinarians’ values on animal health and welfare and
their perceptions of ‘good veterinary practices’. Some veterinarians found that there was no direct economic
interest for them in the organic dairy sector and that could diminish their willingness to invest in this sector.
Opportunities for improvement were identified; propose proactively advice, adapt advisory services and/ or
dissociate veterinarians’ curative role from their advisory role in disease prevention
