ABSTRACT
Although some veterinarians have shown clear progress in adjusting prescribing practices and even stopping the use of CIAs on dairy farms altogether (Tisdall et al., 2016), there are certain challenges to overcome. To begin with, veterinarians are professionals who, in many countries, directly benefit financially from the sale of AMs, a scenario which presents them with a potential conflict of interest. Like medical professionals, veterinarians are often risk-averse, and might feel pressured by farmers to prescribe ABs, even when there is little or no evidence that farmers themselves are demanding prescriptions (Coyne et al., 2014). Some farmers have even reported feeling that their veterinarian might disapprove of them decreasing their AB usage (Jones et al., 2015). Farmers also frequently report that their veterinarians are not engaging them on the issue of AM stewardship, and while veterinarians recognise their influence and the need for them to be proactive advisors, making positive progress can still be a challenge (Buller et al., 2015).
