Understanding breeding and culling decisions of dairy farmers: A qualitative study using the social-ecological model

The average lifespan of dairy cows has decreased in the past few decades despite advances in cow welfare and genetic merit, which represents an ethical, environmental, and economic challenge. The longevity of cows is shaped through breeding and culling decisions made within wider economic, social, and institutional contexts. While several studies have identified reasons for breeding and culling at the cow-level, there is a lack of studies attending to the broader contextual or systemic factors which may affect these decisions. The Social Ecological Model (SEM) is a useful framework to understand how decisions or behaviors are influenced by different levels, from individual to societal. The aim of this study was to understand the multi-level influences of dairy farmers' breeding and culling decisions, using the SEM as an analytical lens. We conducted 20 interviews with dairy farmers in the UK and Channel Islands. Data were analyzed using Template Analysis, and 6 themes were generated representing the levels of the SEM. Cow-level influences of farmers' breeding and culling decisions included conformation, fertility, milk yield, health, and temperament. Farmer-level influences were use of personal "rule of thumb" thresholds for culling decisions, risk aversion toward breeding from older cows and heifers, and perception that cows dying at the abattoir was better than dying on farm. Farmers were sometimes reluctant to cull cows they had a good relationship with but may cull cows earlier to avoid public scrutiny due to having poor condition cows on farm. Farmers' decision making was also influenced by the requirements of their milk contract and the need to consider the potential for involuntary slaughter of some cattle due to bovine tuberculosis policy. Many farmers had increased their culling rates at the time of interview due to high national beef market prices, which provided an opportunity to generate a more immediate income. The findings illustrate that there were influences across all levels of the SEM, from cow level to societal level. The influences provide insight into reasons for earlier culling on farms and why farmers make breeding decisions that reflect priorities other than maximising output or genetic gain.