Table 1 The idealized (weighted and normalized) Q-sorting within each family of farmers' perspectives.
| Â | Statements derived from the concourse1 | Family 1: Team work | Family 2: Animal welfare | Family 3: Knowledge | Family 4: Production |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | I make more money with the management program | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
2 | Team spirit increases in the dairy setting | 1 | -1 | -1 | 3 |
3 | It makes antibiotics more available | -1 | 4 | -1 | 0 |
4 | It is an insurance of the production level | -1 | -1 | 0 | 2 |
5 | I like to be 'up front' | -3 | -1 | 4 | -1 |
6 | I can outsource the responsibility of herd health | -3 | -4 | -4 | -3 |
7 | It gives the vet a chance to prove his worth | -2 | -3 | -2 | 3 |
8 | Future insurance: The vet knows me and the herd | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
9 | I want to make a contribution to develop the advisory service | -3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
10 | Reproduction increases | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
11 | I get whole-farm consultancy | 1 | -2 | 2 | 1 |
12 | A high management level in the stable vs. grazing | -1 | 0 | -5 | -5 |
13 | It is preferable to the image of dairy industry – and me | -2 | 2 | -3 | 2 |
14 | Incidence of disease decreases | 0 | 3 | -3 | -2 |
15 | The vet and I share responsibility regarding herd health | -2 | -1 | -3 | 0 |
16 | The vet updates me on the newest knowledge | -1 | 1 | 5 | -2 |
17 | More cows can be treated without paying the vet | -2 | 4 | -2 | -5 |
18 | I like that only one vet works with me and my herd | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
19 | Yield increases | 4 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
20 | I work more systematically, when someone checks up on me | 0 | -2 | 0 | -4 |
21 | The vet has more experience than me | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
22 | My understanding of herd dynamics as a whole increases | -1 | -1 | 3 | 1 |
23 | The vet and I work better together | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
24 | My financial lenders requested it | -5 | -5 | -4 | -1 |
25 | The vet made me an offer I could not refuse | -5 | -2 | -5 | -2 |
26 | It is necessary for me to take in the herd size | 2 | -3 | 3 | 0 |
27 | Incidence of mastitis decreases | 0 | 3 | -3 | -1 |
28 | Nothing is missed – and it increases joy in my work life | 1 | 1 | -2 | -2 |
29 | I need a loyal and independent advisor to spar with | 1 | -1 | 4 | -4 |
30 | It enhances the business aspect of my herd | -4 | -3 | 3 | -1 |
31 | It was recommended to me (by farmers, consultant) | -4 | -5 | -4 | -3 |
32 | Incidence of dead animals decreases | 2 | -4 | -2 | -4 |
33 | The vet said it was a good idea | -3 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
34 | It is a current trend – and I like new ideas | -4 | -3 | 5 | -1 |
35 | The vet helps to educate my staff | -1 | -2 | -2 | 1 |
36 | The vet bill decreases in the long run | 0 | 1 | 2 | -3 |
37 | It gives me an opportunity to evaluate the effect of interventions | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
38 | My knowledge on cows and herd increases | 3 | -2 | -1 | 5 |
39 | The vet is more enthusiastic regarding my problems | 4 | -4 | 0 | -2 |
40 | The vet helps to put up relevant performance indicators | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
41 | I prefer prevention to treatment | 5 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
42 | The vet gets deep insight into the herd – better advices | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
43 | I can exploit the vets knowledge more systematically | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
44 | Time is saved due to systematic work procedures | 2 | 1 | -1 | 5 |
45 | Animal welfare and herd health increases | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
46 | Extended HHM programs reduce the use of antibiotics | -2 | 5 | -1 | -3 |
% variance attributable to each family of farmers' perspectives (unrotated factors(rotated factors)) | 37/22 | 12/18 | 9/13 | 7/12 | |