Research Article | 28 Sep 2025

Antimicrobial usage, awareness, and animal health management practices among household dairy farmers in West Bengal, India

Rinila Das1 ORCID, Navya Vyas1 ORCID, Shwetha Prabhu1 ORCID, Swati Behera1 ORCID, Utsha Ghosh1 ORCID, Brayal D. Souza2 ORCID, and Arun Kharate3 ORCIDShow more

1. Department of Global Public Health Policy and Governance, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

2. Department of Healthcare and Hospital Management, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India.

3. Department of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Veterinary College, Bidar, Karnataka, India.

Corresponding author: Navya Vyas (navya.vyas@manipal.edu)

Received: 2025-05-10, Accepted: 2025-08-15, Published: 2025-09-28

VETERINARY WORLD | pg no. 242-258 | Vol. 11, Issue 2 | DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2025.242-258
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Abstract

          
Background and Aim: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health threat, projected to cause up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. Livestock production, where antimicrobials are widely used, plays a significant role in the emer­gence and spread of resistant pathogens. In India, small-scale dairy farming forms a key part of rural livelihoods, yet lim­ited evidence exists on antimicrobial usage and animal health practices in this sector. This study assessed antimicrobial usage patterns, awareness, and associated animal health management practices among smallholder dairy farmers in West Medinipur district, West Bengal.
Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2024. Using expert-validated questionnaires and observational checklists, data were collected from 302 household dairy farmers and eight veterinarians across four blocks. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression analyses were per­formed to identify factors associated with antimicrobial misuse and non-adherence to withdrawal periods.
Results: All farmers reported antimicrobial use for their cattle, yet only 18.2% had heard of AMR and 8.9% adhered to drug withdrawal periods. About 13.2% used antimicrobials without prescriptions and 15.2% relied on previous prescriptions. Storage of antimicrobials at home (odds ratio [OR] = 3.998; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.598–10.002), sharing drugs with peers (OR = 5.289; 95% CI = 2.148–13.020), and lack of veterinary consultation (OR = 0.148; 95% CI = 0.0365–0.597) were significant predictors of misuse. Farm-level practices such as absence of isolation units, herd overcrowding, and poor cleaning frequency were significantly associated with higher cattle morbidity (p < 0.001). While all farmers vaccinated and dewormed cattle, 78.1% did not quarantine new animals, and only 19.5% maintained treatment records. Veterinarians generally adhered to guidelines but reported inadequate facilities for safe drug disposal.
Conclusion: This study reveals widespread antimicrobial misuse and low AMR awareness among small-scale dairy farm­ers, compounded by inadequate biosecurity and waste disposal practices. Strengthening AMR mitigation requires targeted farmer education, regulation of over-the-counter antimicrobial sales, better veterinary infrastructure, and integration of One Health-based waste management systems. Interventions should prioritize prescription-based antimicrobial access, continuous farmer training, and community-level monitoring to safeguard both animal and human health.

         
Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial use, drug withdrawal period, India, One Health, smallholder dairy farming.