A farmer’s knowledge of animal disease is based on several types of knowledge (Salmona, 1994): algorithmic (learnt in books/journals/school/internet), mimetic (learnt from someone), and phoric (learnt from what you feel). The phoric and mimetic knowledge are intermingled in the metis (Μῆτις= skill or craft) concept (a mixture of wisdom and cunning) of the old Greeks and can be considered as a farmers’ adaptive or intuitive means for considering decisions on animal health (Cabaret and Nicourt, 2009). However with increased education and literacy, I expect a shift in farmer’s knowledge has occurred, from being predominantly based on phoric and mimetic knowledge to now primarily utilizing algorithmic knowledge. I will argue that the qualitative examination of literature on diseases can shed light on the evolution of algorithmic knowledge in farmers throughout time.

I used the following documentation intended for farmers as materials for testing my hypothesis: Arabic “Kitab Al-Filaha- كتاب الزراعة” (Ibn al Awwam, The book of agriculture, end of 12th century in Spain), and several French books “Le parfait bouvier” (Boutrolles, The perfect cattlekeeper, 1797), “Le guide vétérinaire du cultivateur” (Rivière, The veterinary guide for the farmer, 1902), “Le bon moutonnier” (Degois, The good shepherd, 1958) and finally “Les maladies du mouton”(Brugères-Picoux, The sheep diseases, 2004). The Kitab Al-Filaha has a descriptions of diseases (fairly short from the writings of Aristotle or Kastos and thus, algorithmic) and suggested cures which inevitably include a prayer for God’s help due to the heavy influence of religion at the time (a phoric base for knowledge). The vagueness of the procedures left much room for subjective interpretation and meant there was a need to learn from someone else (mimetic ). To highlight the variation in knowledge types within these books, an example can be found in their recommended treatment of scabies in sheep which ranges from spreading sheep urine with undefined quantities of sulphur on the animal (Kitab), to detailed descriptions of different minerals, their required proportions and frequency of use (Parfait bouvier) to finally advising specific drugs and practices (Guide vétérinaire du cultivateur or Le bon moutonnier).

In the most recent book, only the algorithmic knowledge is present yet we know from interviews that phoric and mimetic knowledge are still used by farmers. The direct analyses of books overestimates the reliance on algorithmic knowledge and the use textual analysis of books could help to correct this bias.