Albernaz-Gonçalves, Rita and Olmos Antillón, Gabriela and Hötzel, Maria José
(2021).
Exploring Farmers’ Reasons for Antibiotic Use and Misuse in Pig Farms in Brazil.
Antibiotics. 10
, 331
[Research article]
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Abstract
Stressful management that makes farmed pigs susceptible to infections is associated with high antibiotic use (AMU) and resistance (AMR). Pig farmers are key stakeholders to support the international agenda pushing AMU restrictions. We interviewed 58 pig farmers on AMU/AMR, biosecurity, veterinary assistance, disease prevention and treatment, aiming to understand practices and attitudes towards the AMU/AMR problem. Farmers described a reliance on antibiotics to prevent and treat disease while neglecting biosecurity measures. We identified inappropriate AMU practices (high use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, incorrect dosage or treatment length) and unrestricted access to antibiotics, which encouraged imprudent AMU. Nevertheless, most farmers considered this AMU legitimate to guarantee herd productivity and showed unpreparedness and resistance to changing AMU practices, perceiving limitations (economic, sanitary and inspection) more easily than alternatives to reduce AMU. Agro-industries and foreign markets were mentioned, and internal consumers dismissed as potential motivators for behavioral changes. Importantly, farmers’ economic, technical and social factors may limit their autonomy to change practices. We conclude that the observed distancing of pig farmers from the AMU/AMR problem limits the efficiency of policies aiming for a prudent AMU. Our study indicates a need for education, training and behavior change nudging that should include other stakeholders beyond farmers.
Authors/Creators: | Albernaz-Gonçalves, Rita and Olmos Antillón, Gabriela and Hötzel, Maria José | ||||
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Title: | Exploring Farmers’ Reasons for Antibiotic Use and Misuse in Pig Farms in Brazil | ||||
Series Name/Journal: | Antibiotics | ||||
Year of publishing : | 2021 | ||||
Volume: | 10 | ||||
Article number: | 331 | ||||
Number of Pages: | 18 | ||||
ISSN: | 2079-6382 | ||||
Language: | English | ||||
Publication Type: | Research article | ||||
Article category: | Scientific peer reviewed | ||||
Version: | Published version | ||||
Copyright: | Creative Commons: Attribution 4.0 | ||||
Full Text Status: | Public | ||||
Subjects: | (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 4 Agricultural Sciences > 403 Veterinary Science > Clinical Science (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 4 Agricultural Sciences > 402 Animal and Dairy Science > Animal and Dairy Science. (A) Swedish standard research categories 2011 > 4 Agricultural Sciences > 405 Other Agricultural Sciences > Agricultural Occupational Health and Safety | ||||
Keywords: | antimicrobial, AMU, AMR, attitudes, livestock, prudent use of antibiotics, swine | ||||
URN:NBN: | urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-p-111231 | ||||
Permanent URL: | http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-p-111231 | ||||
Additional ID: |
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ID Code: | 22866 | ||||
Faculty: | VH - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science | ||||
Department: | (VH) > Dept. of Clinical Sciences | ||||
Deposited By: | SLUpub Connector | ||||
Deposited On: | 01 Apr 2021 06:43 | ||||
Metadata Last Modified: | 01 Apr 2021 06:51 |
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