Knowledge, Perceptions and Acceptance of Selective Dry Cow Therapy Among Romanian Dairy Farmers and Veterinarians

Reducing antimicrobial use in dairy cattle is essential for limiting antimicrobial resistance while maintaining udder health. Selective dry cow therapy (SDCT), in which antibiotics are administered only to cows at increased risk of intramammary infection, has become an important antimicrobial stewardship strategy, yet information regarding its acceptance in Romania is lacking. This cross-sectional study evaluated the knowledge, perceptions, and acceptance of antimicrobial resistance and SDCT among Romanian dairy farmers and veterinarians using an online questionnaire completed by 132 respondents. The questionnaire assessed current dry-off practices, awareness of antimicrobial resistance and selective dry cow therapy, previous implementation, perceived barriers and facilitators, and willingness to adopt or recommend selective dry cow therapy. Overall, 70.5% of farmers had previously heard of antimicrobial resistance, whereas only 27.9% were familiar with the formal concept of SDCT. Administration of antibiotics only to selected cows at dry-off was already the most commonly reported practice among farmers (41.0%) and veterinarians (47.9%), indicating that selective antibiotic use was already being applied despite limited familiarity with the formal SDCT concept. After receiving standardized information describing the strategy, most respondents expressed favorable attitudes and willingness to implement or recommend selective dry cow therapy. Lack of knowledge, limited availability of herd-level diagnostic information, and concerns regarding mastitis were identified as the principal barriers to implementation. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that concern regarding antimicrobial resistance was the only independent predictor of SDCT acceptance among farmers. These findings suggest that strengthening antimicrobial stewardship education, veterinary guidance, standardized protocols, and access to diagnostic tools may facilitate wider adoption of selective dry cow therapy in Romania.