Relationships between culling criteria in dairy herds and farmers' management styles

A survey was carried out in 67 dairy farms in western France to assess the relationships between culling criteria in dairy herds and farmers' reported management styles. The dairy farmers in three administrative districts were interviewed in a semi-structured way to collect (1) their points of view regarding culling and related topics (genetics, reproduction, quotas and health management), (2) their relationships with other farmers and external advisors, (3) their socio-demographic characteristics, (4) characteristics of the production system. A farmer's social status was defined by descriptors of the nature and the frequency of relationships a farmer had with other professionals. Farmers' points of view were classified into categories: 'objectives', 'motivations', 'factors of context', 'culling criteria', 'modifying practices' and 'adaptations' towards culling. The farmers' management styles were defined as specific combinations of objectives, motivations and factors of context. Cluster analysis was used to identify groups of farmers sharing the same criteria for culling criteria. The relationships between these clusters and farmers' management styles, production systems and sociological variables were assessed. Five groups of dairy farmers (the multi-criteria conventionals, the passive traditionals, the activists, the tolerant voluntarists, and the silent traditionals) were differentiated by their criteria for culling. These groups were also differentiated by their management style and social status. Culling criteria were sociologically structured. The relationships between the clusters and the production systems variables were low. Because farmers' management styles appear to modulate management practices, it might be useful to assess how farmers combine their goals, strategies, and related practices when providing tools for improving farm performances.