Farmers_Perception_concentrate_Feeding

Data from 155 dairy farms were collected through on-site, semi-structured interviews. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used for data analysis. Four theoretical constructs (forage, genetics, management, and market) were analyzed to explore dairy farmers’ perceptions. We hypothesized that the four constructs have a positive and significant influence on concentrate feeding in dairy farms. Our results revealed that the genetic construct, followed by the market construct, has the greatest influence on concentrate use. The influence of the management construct was moderate, and that of the forage construct was low. PLS-SEM was effective in reducing the set of study variables to factors with a significant influence on concentrate feeding in Brazilian dairy farms.