Development of a Training Strategy Aimed at Increasing Veterinarians’ Awareness of the Proper Use of Antibiotics on Rabbit Farms

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Increasing awareness among veterinarians regarding antimicrobial administration to animals is crucial in combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Implementing educational practices serves as a fundamental tool to foster dialogue and discussion among professionals on AMR, facilitating the identification and sharing of strategies for its reduction. This manuscript presents a training project example designed for veterinarians engaged in the rabbit sector. The project utilizes an innovative blended training strategy to encourage communication and discussion among experts, establishing common best practices for the responsible use of drugs on farms. The course’s design was tailored to the specific training needs of veterinarians, identified via a social research activity involving focus group discussions. Participants engaged in interactive activities, such as group classroom exercises and online forum discussions, resulting in the development of an “operational tool”. This tool provides guidance for rabbit veterinarians to implement various strategies in order to reduce antimicrobial usage (AMU) and enhance the adoption of correct breeding management practices. The training activities received positive feedback from the participating veterinarians, highlighting the success of this approach. The structure and efficacy of this training program suggest its potential application in other animal production chains to address AMR effectively. ABSTRACT: The rabbit sector faces significant challenges with antimicrobial usage (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A focus group involving nine rabbit sector stakeholders identified key issues contributing to high AMU and the need for veterinarians’ training. Participants emphasized the lack of clear legislation, biosecurity standards, and the importance of training on best practices to reduce AMU. To address these concerns, a blended learning course for rabbit veterinarians was organized, focusing on responsible drug use to lower AMU. The course design promoted participant interaction using group exercises and online discussions. The output was an operational tool, encompassing crucial elements to reduce drug dependence, covering housing, environmental conditions, feed, reproduction, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatments. Validated in veterinarians’ daily practices, the tool proved valuable. The tool, presented as a checklist, assists veterinarians in supporting field activities regarding proper drug use and AMR issues. It also helps farmers address knowledge gaps in breeding management and adopt biosecurity practices for disease prevention. Participants were encouraged to use the tool during farm visits and collaborate with farmers. The project presented in the manuscript is a crucial step towards the development of effective strategies for responsible AMU and AMR mitigation in the rabbit sector and beyond.