Vol. 12, Issue 4 (2023)

Author(s):
Sudarshan S, B Eswara Rao, S Wilfred Ruban, E Naga Mallika, T Srinivas Rao, D Narendra Nath, Shivakumar R, Ahlen IG Barry and Satheesha SP

Abstract:
The present study was planned to study the socio-economic, antibiotics usage and health care practices adapted by Swine farmers. A total of 48 pig farmers practising the commercial pig rearing in Hassan district were surveyed using structured questionnaire of socio-economic status, household characteristics, feeding and managemental practices, health care, hygiene and antimicrobial usage pattern to assess their knowledge, perception and attitude towards antibiotics. Results of the survey indicated that majority of the Swine farmers are marginal farmers (65%) belonging to other backward communities (84%) followed by scheduled caste (8%) and 92 percent of the farmers were Hindus. Majority of the Swine farmers (96%) practiced stall feeding and kitchen/hotel waste was the major source of feed for their pigs and 24 percent practiced vaccination against Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) and swine fever. None of the farmers had records of antibiotic treatment of their pigs and they generally consulted veterinarians (96%) for the use of antibiotics; however the antibiotics were administered by themselves or by the farm workers (96%). The major antibiotics used were enrofloxacin followed by streptopenicillin, tetracycline, fortified procaine penicillin, sulphonamides (Co-trimazole). The antibiotics generally used to treat pyrexia, diarrhoea respiratory/skin diseases, anorexia and urogenital infections/abortion in majority of the farms.