The use of complementary and alternative approaches to animal health on UK dairy farms and their influences on antibiotic use

: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background: The use and benefits of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) in a veterinary context is subject to debate. Little is known about how CAM is used to manage animal health on dairy farms.

Methods: A qualitative research study was conducted involving three main phases:
1) Semi-structured interviews with 24 farmers, and observations on 17 farms about CAM use and potential impact on antibiotic use.
2) The READ approach was used to analyse media documents (n=181) from farming, veterinary and pro-CAM sectors (2016-2021) to understand how CAM is framed and discussed.
3) Semi-structured interviews with 12 stakeholders including veterinary surgeons, pharmacists, and farm advisors to understand their views and experiences of CAM.

Results:
1) Farmer participants were influenced to use CAM by first-hand experiences, farmer networks, a sense of treatment autonomy, contracts with milk buyers and organic guidelines. Farmers associated CAM with
holistic health management and good animal welfare. Whilst reduced antibiotic use appeared to be driven by market requirements, CAM provided a way for farmers to care for animals without recourse to
antibiotics.
2) CAM use was a debated issue within the veterinary profession. Concerns associated with CAM use included animal welfare, financial resources and the professional identity of vets.
3) Some vets engaged with CAM whilst others felt it had no place in veterinary medicine. Advisors and vets who engage with CAM felt it provided farmers with agency over animal health and a range of tools to support reduced antibiotic use.

Discussion: This PhD provides evidence about how CAM is used on some UK dairy farms. Findings point to the need for more open communication regarding use of CAM between vets, farmers and others advising on CAM use. CAM use may have a role to play in helping to reduce antibiotic resistance although more work is required to improve understanding, definitions, the evidence base and reassurances built around safe uses.

Date of Award	23 Jan 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Gwenllian Rees (Supervisor), Christie L Cabral (Supervisor), Helen A Cramer (Supervisor), Debbie J Sharp (Supervisor) & David C Barrett (Supervisor)