b'ARTICLEIn a study based on farmers approachesWe just must listen more, to biosecurity, the researchers revealedunderstand what motivates our five interconnecting themes which focused on issues of trust, time, gettingfarmers, take a more relaxed to know each other, the ability to haverelationship-based approach to cooperative discussions and clarification regarding the cost-effectiveness ofour work. Our own self-doubt measures. A key conclusion of this studyholds us back too often. was that the vet : farmer relationship, and potentially how these interactionsWe must meet people where they stand occur, are likely to be critical to anyand seek to understand rather than future disease prevention planning andjudge or write off. implementation efforts. SummaryNo amount of testing will solve mastitis,We spend five years at university TB or JD. We must find ways to engagelearning how not to engage with farmers with adopting solutions basedfarmers! We typically fall into the trap on shared discussions.of believing that we must be the expert Taking a non-judgemental approach toand getting hooked up on the details of our farmer relationships is so importanttechnical knowledge and hard evidence. too. Judgement prevents progress.We dont! We just must listen more, Often the farmer is blamed for hisunderstand what motivates our farmers, circumstances and the disease levelstake a more relaxed relationship-based within his herd. Often however, whatapproach to our work. Our own self-is wrong within these herds is down todoubt holds us back too often. our approach and the communicationIn my opinion, based largely on methods.Frequently they are based onobservation and literature, the real step the methods we have successfully usedforward for farm practice and improving with other proactive farmers, who haveanimal health and welfare will lie in differing learning styles, understandingengaging with the social science and or beliefs, or attribute differentimproving farmer engagement. Its never importance to a particular disease.too late to learn. Pete Orpin is current Chair of the Board of SPVS and a business consultant for Anval. He was recently made a Fellow of RCVS for Meritorious Contributions to the Profession and is passionate about improving career satisfaction within clinical practice. He worked for 35 years as veterinary surgeon at the Park Vet Group in Leicestershire, UK and developed particular skills in data management, preventive medicine and leadership.His career started working at the practice in 1984 joining a small team of 4 vets and 6 support staff and helped build a winning team that took the business to a 115 people business with 7 business operations working over 4 geographic locations.References1. Grant, N., Buchanan, H. & Brennan, M. L., 2023. Factors within A Veterinarian-CattleFarmer Relationship That May Impact on Biosecurity Being Carried out on Farms: An Exploratory Study. Veterinary Science , 10(7).p410.2. Higgins, H., Green, M. J., & Madouasse, A. (2012b). Facilitating change in herd health Dairy Herd Health, 11-33. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781845939977.00113. Morrison R, Hanks J, Orpin PG, Strain S, Taylor EN, Rose DC. Challenges for the management of Johnes disease in the UK: Expectation management, space, free riding, and vet-farmer communication. Prev Vet Med. 2024 Jul 22;231:106295. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106295. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39116763.4. Taylor EN, Channa K, Orpin PG, Hanks J, Taylor NM. Changes in the Johnes disease situation in GB dairy herds over 10 years, as revealed by regular milk ELISA data. Prev Vet Med. 2024 Aug 21;232:106317. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106317. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39178523.5. Orpin PG, Sibley R.J(2024) Practical tips to engage farmers with Johnes Disease control in dairy herds. Livestock. In press www.myhealthyherd.co.uk https://actionjohnesuk.org/ 8www.inspiredvet.co.uk'