Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming

ABSTRACT: Qualitative research related to humans, dairy cows, calves, and farming has been published by scientists from a variety of disciplines in many journals targeting dairy science audiences. We aimed to investigate how scientific communities other than those working in dairy science describe,...

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Main Authors: M. Vaarst, C. Ritter, J. Saraceni, S. Roche, E. Wynands, D. Kelton, K.E. Koralesky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Dairy Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224010804
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author M. Vaarst
C. Ritter
J. Saraceni
S. Roche
E. Wynands
D. Kelton
K.E. Koralesky
author_facet M. Vaarst
C. Ritter
J. Saraceni
S. Roche
E. Wynands
D. Kelton
K.E. Koralesky
author_sort M. Vaarst
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Qualitative research related to humans, dairy cows, calves, and farming has been published by scientists from a variety of disciplines in many journals targeting dairy science audiences. We aimed to investigate how scientific communities other than those working in dairy science describe, analyze, and discuss dairy farming, because we found it important to bring this research to the attention of dairy scientists. In total, 117 articles were identified as involving one or more qualitative research methods in relation to dairy cattle. The review brought out a wealth of perspectives, new insights, and discussions related to dairy cattle, farmers, farming, and the sector, and in relation to societal issues and food and ecological landscapes. A broad range of qualitative research methods were used, and the literature targeted issues at the animal, farm, societal, food system, and landscape levels. Some raised critical questions about existing structures, highlighted unfairness in the industry, or pointed to new potential futures and contemporary agendas. We expect that it will be inspirational and stimulating for researchers to review new sources of literature and suggest a closer interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers from different disciplines for the future development of research involving dairy cattle. Further, it could be relevant and even necessary to engage in such interaction to avoid increasing polarization around future development of the sector—for example, related to climate change or how industrialization seems to push inequity or ignore the agency of animals themselves. Exploring perspectives of farming from different angles could enrich the outcomes of future dairy research.
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spelling doaj-art-2d18a96eb90c4d8a9328faeea65bf0b02024-11-29T06:22:20ZengElsevierJournal of Dairy Science0022-03022024-12-01107121005010065Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farmingM. Vaarst0C. Ritter1J. Saraceni2S. Roche3E. Wynands4D. Kelton5K.E. Koralesky6Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark; Corresponding authorDepartment of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE, Canada C1A 4P3ACER Consulting Ltd., Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 5L3ACER Consulting Ltd., Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 5L3; Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1ACER Consulting Ltd., Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 5L3Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1Animal Welfare Program, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4ABSTRACT: Qualitative research related to humans, dairy cows, calves, and farming has been published by scientists from a variety of disciplines in many journals targeting dairy science audiences. We aimed to investigate how scientific communities other than those working in dairy science describe, analyze, and discuss dairy farming, because we found it important to bring this research to the attention of dairy scientists. In total, 117 articles were identified as involving one or more qualitative research methods in relation to dairy cattle. The review brought out a wealth of perspectives, new insights, and discussions related to dairy cattle, farmers, farming, and the sector, and in relation to societal issues and food and ecological landscapes. A broad range of qualitative research methods were used, and the literature targeted issues at the animal, farm, societal, food system, and landscape levels. Some raised critical questions about existing structures, highlighted unfairness in the industry, or pointed to new potential futures and contemporary agendas. We expect that it will be inspirational and stimulating for researchers to review new sources of literature and suggest a closer interdisciplinary collaboration among researchers from different disciplines for the future development of research involving dairy cattle. Further, it could be relevant and even necessary to engage in such interaction to avoid increasing polarization around future development of the sector—for example, related to climate change or how industrialization seems to push inequity or ignore the agency of animals themselves. Exploring perspectives of farming from different angles could enrich the outcomes of future dairy research.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224010804ethnographymixed methodsinterdisciplinarityanimal welfare
spellingShingle M. Vaarst
C. Ritter
J. Saraceni
S. Roche
E. Wynands
D. Kelton
K.E. Koralesky
Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming
Journal of Dairy Science
ethnography
mixed methods
interdisciplinarity
animal welfare
title Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming
title_full Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming
title_fullStr Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming
title_full_unstemmed Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming
title_short Invited review: Qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming
title_sort invited review qualitative social and human science research focusing on actors in and around dairy farming
topic ethnography
mixed methods
interdisciplinarity
animal welfare
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030224010804
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