Factores asociados a la percepción veterinaria sobre el uso inadecuado de antibióticos y áreas de mejora en establos lecheros de pequeña y mediana escala en México

The objective was to analyze veterinarians’ perceptions of the inappropriate use of antibiotics in small and medium-scale dairy farms in Mexico and to identify factors that influence these perceptions. A structured questionnaire was applied to 75 technical advisors; 33 met the inclusion criteria (being a veterinarian, working with dairy cattle, and serving farms with up to 100 cows). Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test were performed. Veterinarians estimated that 28.3% of their clients overuse antibiotics. Those who dedicate less time to dairy cattle identified higher inappropriate use of antibiotics (p = 0.02). An association was also found between concern about bacterial resistance and the perception that antibiotic use poses a public health threat (p = 0.009). It is concluded that about one third of producers may be using antibiotics inappropriately, highlighting the importance of strengthening technical advice and promoting preventive management practices.