Analysis of Pan-European attitudes to the eradication and control of bovine viral diarrhoea
- C. Heffernan, DVM, PhD, MRCVS1,
- F. Misturelli, MA, PhD1,
- L. Nielsen, MA, PhD1,
- G. J. Gunn, BVMS, MRCVS2 and
- J. Yu, MSc1
- 1 University of Reading, Livestock Development Group, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Earley Gate, PO Box 237, Reading RG6 6AT
- 2 SAC Epidemiology Research Unit, Research and Development Division, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
- E-mail for correspondence: c.l.heffernan{at}reading.ac.uk
Abstract
At present, national-level policies concerning the eradication and control of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) differ widely across Europe. Some Scandinavian countries have enacted strong regulatory frameworks to eradicate the disease, whereas other countries have few formal policies. To examine these differences, the attitudes of stakeholders and policy makers in 17 European countries were investigated. A web-based questionnaire was sent to policy makers, government and private sector veterinarians, and representatives of farmers' organisations. In total, 131 individuals responded to the questionnaire and their responses were analysed by applying a method used in sociolinguistics: frame analysis. The results showed that the different attitudes of countries that applied compulsory or voluntary frameworks were associated with different views about the attribution or blame for BVD and the roles ascribed to farmers and other stakeholders in its eradication and control.
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