EVALUATION OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF PIG FARMERS IN COMMERCIAL FARMS REGARDING THE PRUDENT USE OF ANTIMICROBIALS IN PIG FARMING IN RIO GRANDE DO SUL

Brazil is the 4th largest producer and exporter of pork in the world. In 2023, the Southern region accounted for 73% of slaughters, with Rio Grande do Sul (RS) ranking third nationally. The intensification of swine farming has brought economic gains but also an increase in the use of antimicrobials (AMs), employed in disease prevention and control. This scenario raises public health concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance (AMR), pressuring the production chain to adopt more prudent practices - a challenge for producers who fear negative impacts on productivity and profitability. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of pig producers in RS regarding the prudent use of antimicrobials, through an exploratory and descriptive survey, using questionnaires applied to 97 commercial farms between January 2022 and April 2023. Results showed that all producers were assisted by technicians from integrator companies (100%) and were aware of AM use in water (71.9%) and feed (74.2%), mainly for disease prevention (77.8%). However, there was no consensus on the possibility of reducing their use, and 47% were unaware of alternatives. The main obstacles to adopting alternative practices included costs (67%), lack of additional remuneration (58.8%), and uncertain effectiveness of the measures (58.8%). Although they recognize the risks of AMR, 90.7% of producers do not believe in the feasibility of completely eliminating AM use. The study reinforces the need for educational strategies and public policies to promote the responsible use of these drugs.