Change it or perish? Drug resistance and the dynamics of livestock farm practices

Bellet, Camille

doi:10.1016/j.jrurstud.2018.08.016

Cited by 23 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…In human medicine, antimicrobial practices have been found to be motivated more by drivers relating to the social context of the prescribing environment such as managing time pressures, patient outcomes, relationships with patients, and a physicians' perceived role within the hospital than by concerns over antimicrobial resistance (25–28). Similarly, Bellet reported that drivers relating to the herd productivity, animal health, and welfare motivated anthelmintic use in dairy production; often to the detriment of considerations over anthelmintic resistance (29). Food producing animals occupy a unique position whereby animal management and the economic viability of a farm influence the antimicrobial use decisions of veterinary surgeons and farmers (19, 20, 26).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Perspectives on Antimicrobial Use in Livestock: A Mixed-Methods Study of UK Pig Farmers

et al. 2019

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Increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance in human and veterinary medicine have raised concerns over the irresponsible use of antimicrobials. The role of administering antimicrobials in food producing animals most frequently falls to the farmer, therefore it is essential that their use of antimicrobials is both optimal and responsible. This study sought in-depth information on the drivers behind antimicrobial use behaviors and farmer attitudes to responsible use using a mixed-methodological approach. Initially, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposively selected sample of farmers ( n = 22). A thematic analysis approach was taken to identify key themes from these qualitative data. The generalizability and variation of these themes was then tested on a larger randomly selected sample of pig farmers through a questionnaire study ( n = 261). The influences behind antimicrobial use were complex with multiple drivers motivating decisions. There was no consensual opinion on what farming systems resulted in either a low or high antimicrobial requirement however, farmers reported that good management practices, low stocking densities, and a high health status were associated with low antimicrobial use. Farmers expressed desire to avoid the long-term use of in-feed antimicrobials, but identified barriers to discontinuing such behaviors, such as pig morbidity, mortality, and economic losses. The high cost of antimicrobials was described as a motivation toward seeking alternative methods of controlling disease to prophylactic use; however, this expense was balanced against the losses from an increased burden of disease. The high financial costs involved in pig production alongside the economic uncertainty of production and pressure from retailers, were identified as limiting the scope for improvements in pig accommodation and facilities which could reduce the antimicrobial requirements on farm. Long-term, sustainable and economically stable relationships between retailers and farmers may allow farmers to make necessary investments in improving management and housing in order to reduce antimicrobial use. Greater use and more widespread deployment of effective vaccinations were highlighted by farmers as being a feasible alternative to antimicrobial use in preventing disease.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Perspectives on Antimicrobial Use in Livestock: A Mixed-Methods Study of UK Pig Farmers

et al. 2019

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“…Thus, ‘expert’ farmers could play a part in future knowledge exchange on fluke control and triclabendazole resistance. This is supported by the literature which shows that farmers may be influenced more by farming peers than by veterinary surgeons 13 16…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 54%

“…Garforth and others17 identified that farmers with greater concerns over disease risk and previous negative experiences were more likely to comply with recommendations for disease control than farmers with fewer concerns. The high costs and lack of facilities for housing sheep have been identified as barriers to widespread adoption of such practices by farmers 12 13 16. It is unlikely that housing sheep at periods of high fluke risk is a feasible control method for many farmers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The study identified habit as a major driver of practice, which can act as a barrier to behaviour change. Long‐standing behaviours grounded in the ‘habitus’ of livestock farming are well recognised in the literature,12 35–37 including the use of anthelmintics 13 38. Ploeger and others described a willingness of farmers to change habitual parasite control practices but that a lack of guidance on how to change was a barrier to changing that practice.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An interview guide was developed12 13 and consisted of open questions designed to encourage free and detailed discussion on the following four topics: The threat of liver fluke to health and performance of sheep. The efficacy of flukicides and concerns over drug resistance. Control strategies to prevent fluke infection. Perceptions on the 2013 trial, how the trial influenced fluke control on their farm and what, if any, benefits accrued from improved fluke control. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Providing information about triclabendazole resistance status influences farmers to change liver fluke control practices

et al. 2020

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BackgroundReports of disease and production losses associated with Fasciola hepatica, the common liver fluke, have increased in recent years. Resistance to triclabendazole, one of the principal veterinary medicines used to prevent losses, has been reported and is now considered widespread in fluke endemic regions of the UK.MethodsThirteen farmers participated in a trial in 2013 and the triclabendazole resistance status was obtained for each farm. Based on these results, a knowledge exchange programme on fluke control was delivered to nearly 100 farmers in the region. In this follow-up study, 11 farmers involved in the original trial, participated in semistructured in-depth qualitative interviews in July 2017.ResultsOverall, participants identified benefits from participating in the 2013 trial, gaining information about triclabendazole resistance on their farms and knowledge about fluke control. The information on their farm’s resistance status was a driver for changing their liver fluke control programmes. Factors such as habitual and repetitive behaviours, grazing restrictions due to agri-environmental schemes, economic pressures and climate change were identified that could impede or prevent the adoption of new control strategies.ConclusionsThe study highlights the significance of resistance to triclabendazole and the impact of knowledge exchange programmes in changing liver fluke control practices.

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“It’s just the luck of the draw”: Luck, good farming and the management of animal disease in Aotearoa New Zealand

2021

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Change it or perish? Drug resistance and the dynamics of livestock farm practices

Cited by 23 publications

References 62 publications

Exploring Perspectives on Antimicrobial Use in Livestock: A Mixed-Methods Study of UK Pig Farmers

Exploring Perspectives on Antimicrobial Use in Livestock: A Mixed-Methods Study of UK Pig Farmers

Providing information about triclabendazole resistance status influences farmers to change liver fluke control practices

“It’s just the luck of the draw”: Luck, good farming and the management of animal disease in Aotearoa New Zealand

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