ABSTRACT
Reduced use of AMs and better use of other medicines on dairy farms is readily achievable if all involved in delivering health care and managing the husbandry of the herd work together towards this goal. What was once considered legitimate use of medicines in the dairy sector might now be considered abuse of the veterinarians’ right to prescribe. We are already seeing retailers and milk buyers pushing hard for real change in medicine usage at the farm level, and in some countries national reduction targets have been in place for some years. Our use of medicines in dairy production needs to change and become far more sustainable if we are to avoid further regulation or legislative bans on certain medicines or ways of using medicines. Safeguarding animal health and the food chain from residues is no longer sufficient; veterinarians need to consider the bigger picture of the environment and AMR.
