Factors impacting beef cattle producers' perceptions on disease prevention and preparedness in Illinois, USA: The role of farm biosecurity evaluations, veterinary visits, and willingness to invest in disease prevention

Foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreaks can impact herd health and the agricultural economy. This study assessed how beef cattle farmers' perceptions toward disease prevention and FAD risk and preparedness are influenced by having a farm biosecurity evaluation, a veterinary visit, and whether producers were willing to pay for disease prevention. A survey was administered to beef cattle producers in Illinois between June and August 2022. From the survey responses, ordinal regression models were constructed to assess the associations between farmers' perceptions of disease prevention and FAD risk (a 5-level outcome) and producers' animal health management practices (predictors). A total of 537 beef farmers responded to our survey, for an 18 % response rate. Respondents who recognized the importance of developing a disease prevention plan during an FAD outbreak were more likely to have their farms' biosecurity evaluated, invest in disease prevention, and have a veterinarian visit their farms. In addition, respondents who valued educational materials on FADs were more likely to have on-farm biosecurity evaluations (OR = 1.97, 95 % CI: 1.35-2.86), have a veterinarian visit their farms (OR = 1.48, 95 % CI: 1.04-2.11), and be willing to pay more for disease prevention (OR = 2.53, 95 % CI: 1.77-3.62). Furthermore, those willing to invest more in disease prevention were less likely to believe that an FAD would not occur in the US in the next five years (OR = 0.36; 95 % CI: 0.25-0.53). Strengthening veterinary engagement, promoting on-farm biosecurity evaluations, and supporting producers willing to invest in disease prevention are important for improving beef cattle farmers' preparedness for FAD outbreaks. These findings underscore the importance of targeted education and resource allocation to enhance the resilience of the beef sector in Illinois and the United States of America.