How did dairy fatigue research come about and what are we doing?

• Main Authors: Tipples, Rupert S, Hill, R, Wilson, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English

Content Partner: Lincoln University. According to the Strategy for New Zealand Dairy Farming 2009/2020, the industry is seeking the following outcomes amongst others: Talented and skilled people are attracted to, and retained by the dairy farming industry (Outcome 2).The dairy industry’s reputation is enhanced locally and globally (Outcome 4). Shared goals are achieved through genuine partnership between industry and government and the wider community (Outcome 5). But what do we find? In an exercise in self-diagnosis in 2007, Dairy InSight concluded that many expectations were not being met and outcomes achieved. There is little evidence to suggest much has changed since then. In 2007 Dairy InSight found that dairy farming was not attractive compared to other industries; that its hours were long; that its staff turnover was high, and recruitment and retention of employees problematic. The accident rate of dairy farming was reported as third worst in terms of injuries per person employed. Employees and their families were required to live on farm and thus were prone to a degree of social isolation, and it also experienced a lack of rural support networks.This research was funded by dairy farmers through DairyNZ and the New Zealand Institute for Rural Health as part of the Farmer Wellness and Wellbeing Programme (2010-2017).