Do you intend to reduce your antimicrobial use?

Researchers at the Atlantic Veterinary College in collaboration with researchers at the University of Calgary and ACER Consulting are launching a project to support Canadian dairy farmers in reducing their antimicrobial use for dry cow therapy and clinical mastitis. The aim of this study is to better understand barriers and facilitators to reducing antimicrobial use and investigate the use and perceived practicality of standard operating procedures.

You are eligible to participate if you are:

• An English-speaking dairy farmer in Canada with oversight for management decisions associated with antimicrobial use in dry and/or lactating cattle
• At least 18 years old
• Have a goal of reducing your antimicrobial use related to dry cow therapy and/or clinical mastitis
• Collect individual cow data on days in milk, parity, milk production, monthly individual somatic cell count
• Collect farm data on clinical mastitis cases and culling events
• Do some form of daily assessment for mastitis for all milking cows
• Willing to commit to attending 3 virtual meetings over the course of 1 year

If you choose to participate, you will take part in three online discussion group sessions with other farmers over the course of one year. Together with the group moderator, you will identify barriers specific to your farm and make a plan on how to transition to more selective antimicrobial use for dry cow therapy and/or clinical mastitis. You will also be provided support on how to include your veterinarian in this plan, and we will invite your veterinarian to participate in this study, have a 10-30 minute call, and be in a focus group with you and other farmers/veterinarians during the second meeting. Each discussion group will take between 45-120 minutes and will be held online using Zoom.

The aim of this project is that you will enhance antimicrobial stewardship while maintaining your animal health and welfare.