Browsing by Author "Gray DI"

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    Agricultural science in the wild: a social network analysis of farmer knowledge exchange.
    (PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE, 2014) Wood BA; Blair HT; Gray DI; Kemp PD; Kenyon PR; Morris ST; Sewell AM
    Responding to demands for transformed farming practices requires new forms of knowledge. Given their scale and complexity, agricultural problems can no longer be solved by linear transfers in which technology developed by specialists passes to farmers by way of extension intermediaries. Recent research on alternative approaches has focused on the innovation systems formed by interactions between heterogeneous actors. Rather than linear transfer, systems theory highlights network facilitation as a specialized function. This paper contributes to our understanding of such facilitation by investigating the networks in which farmers discuss science. We report findings based on the study of a pastoral farming experiment collaboratively undertaken by a group of 17 farmers and five scientists. Analysis of prior contact and alter sharing between the group's members indicates strongly tied and decentralized networks. Farmer knowledge exchanges about the experiment have been investigated using a mix of quantitative and qualitative methods. Network surveys identified who the farmers contacted for knowledge before the study began and who they had talked to about the experiment by 18 months later. Open-ended interviews collected farmer statements about their most valuable contacts and these statements have been thematically analysed. The network analysis shows that farmers talked about the experiment with 192 people, most of whom were fellow farmers. Farmers with densely tied and occupationally homogeneous contacts grew their networks more than did farmers with contacts that are loosely tied and diverse. Thematic analysis reveals three general principles: farmers value knowledge delivered by persons rather than roles, privilege farming experience, and develop knowledge with empiricist rather than rationalist techniques. Taken together, these findings suggest that farmers deliberate about science in intensive and durable networks that have significant implications for theorizing agricultural innovation. The paper thus concludes by considering the findings' significance for current efforts to rethink agricultural extension.
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    Body condition scoring of sheep: intra- and inter-observer variability
    (New Zealand Society of Animal Production (INC), 2020) Corner-Thomas R; Sewell AM; Kemp P; Wood BA; Gray DI; Morris ST; Blair HT; Kenyon PR
    Body condition scoring (BCS) is a hands-on tool that farmers can use to make decisions about their animal feeding and management. BCS, however, is a subjective measure of the muscle and fat cover of the lumbar spine. Observers, therefore, may show variability in scores both across time and from other observers. This study aimed to determine the intra- and inter-observer variation of both farmers and research technicians as part of a learning exercise of a farmer-learning group based at Massey University between 2011 and 2015. Nineteen farmers and three research technicians condition scored 45 mixed-age ewes on two consecutive days. Data from both farmers and technicians were analysed to determine the intra- and inter-observer variability using a weighted kappa. The results indicate that the majority of farmers and technicians had ‘excellent’ agreement (21 of the 22 observers had kappa values greater than 0.75) between days. Similarly, among pairs of observers the agreement was also ‘excellent’ (212 of 231 comparisons had kappa values greater than 0.75). The distribution of scores that contributed to each median condition score, however, indicated that lower scores (1, 1.5 and 2) has less variability than did higher scores (2.5 or greater). These results suggest that BCS is a robust farm-management tool that can be used with a high degree of repeatability. Keywords: body condition scoring; intra-observer variability, inter-observer variability.
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    Reduced anthelmintic use on 13 New Zealand sheep farms: farmer motivations and practical implementation
    (Taylor and Francis Group on behalf of the New Zealand Veterinary Association, 2024-09-19) Ridler AL; Hytten K; Gray DI; Reid JI
    AIMS: To describe the personal drivers, sources of information and gastro-intestinal parasite control methods used by a group of New Zealand sheep farmers identified as low users of anthelmintic (AHC), and their perception of the efficacy and impacts of this approach. METHODS: A convenience sample of 13 sheep farmers farming with a policy of reduced AHC use (no pre-determined routine treatments of ewes >19 months old and/or lambs not routinely treated at pre-determined intervals from weaning through to late autumn) were identified. Semi-structured interviews were conducted regarding their farming philosophy, motivations for reducing AHC use, perceptions of the impacts of farming with reduced AHC use, and parasite control practices. Semi-quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics for demographic data and categorising participants' use of AHC and non-chemical control methods. Qualitative data regarding participants' motivations, approaches and rationale were analysed by systematic analysis of the transcripts and distillation of key concepts. RESULTS: Participants had been operating with reduced AHC use for 3 to  ≥20 years. Key motivators for reducing AHC use were a diagnosis of anthelmintic resistance (AR) or concerns about AR developing. Parasite management information came from a wide range of sources. All respondents expressed overall positive views regarding the impacts of reduced AHC use but detailed information was not available.All identified that regular monitoring, based primarily on subjective animal and non-animal factors was important for their parasite control strategy. Most used faecal egg counts (FEC), often in an ad hoc manner. Five never treated adult ewes, two routinely treated ewes prior to lambing with short-acting AHC and the remainder occasionally treated a small number in low body condition. Four routinely treated some or all lambs at 28-30-day intervals from weaning to late autumn while the remainder based their treatment decisions for lambs on monitored information. All placed heavy emphasis on feeding sheep well, ensuring high post-grazing residuals, and cross-grazing. CONCLUSIONS: AR was a key motivator for participants to reduce AHC use, and a range of information sources and decision-making processes were used. Key parasite management practices were monitoring, primarily using subjective assessments, emphasis on feeding stock well and cross-grazing. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The rising prevalence of AR will likely result in increasing the motivation for sheep farmers to reduce their AHC use. Veterinarians will play a key role in providing advice and assistance to facilitate changes in parasite management.