Stakeholder engagement as a valuable tool to improve the relevance of research regarding framework development

This paper presents a stakeholder engagement process conducted as part of a larger research project to develop a new framework to support the adoption of preventive medicine practices on ruminant farms. Stakeholder engagement enhances research relevance by aligning it with the needs of end users. While common in human healthcare, it is less prevalent in veterinary medicine. Stakeholders engaged in this work included future end users—veterinarians and livestock farmers. A combination of approaches was utilised, including in-person and online group discussions and individual conversations. Stakeholder contributions significantly shaped the research—both the content and structure of the framework, as well as the methods used to develop it. Their involvement improved the framework’s practical relevance and usability, increasing the likelihood of future adoption. The findings demonstrate that stakeholder engagement is not only valuable but also feasible within veterinary research settings.