74 Understanding veterinarians’ prescribing decisions on antibiotic dry cow therapy (Research paper; Higgins, 2017)

Significant Impact Group(s): Pathogen management \ Managing sick animals \ Targeted use of antibiotics
Species targeted: Dairy;
Age: Adult;
Outcome Parameter(s): Approaches to antibiotic dry cow therapy
Summary: In the United Kingdom, blanket antibiotic dry cow therapy (BDCT) is commonly prescribed. An alternate strategy is selective dry cow therapy (SDCT) whereby a teat sealant is given instead of an antibiotic to cows with a low probability of infection. Switching from BDCT to SDCT can significantly reduce antibiotic use. Initiatives that seek to alter vets’ perceptions of the risks associated with switching to using SDCT are likely to prove useful in facilitating change. Our results also suggest for senior vets should take a leading role in helping farms applying SDCT. When considering how best to make a change from BDCT to SDCT, we propose a broad approach that clearly recognizes that the issues blocking this change are very different for vets at different stages of their career. Vets must work together to promote switching to SDCT where appropriate, and senior vets must lead.
74 Research paper – Higgins – 2017 – Understanding veterinarians’ prescribing decisions on antibiotic dry cow therapy
Where to find the original material:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030217300747; https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2016-11923
Country: UK

74 Research paper – Higgins – 2017 – Understanding veterinarians’ prescribing decisions on antibiotic dry cow therapy