Assessment of Veterinary Drug Use and Antimicrobial Stewardship Among Livestock Farmers in Anambra State

This study assesses patterns of veterinary drug use and adherence to antimicrobial stewardship principles among livestock farmers in Anambra State, located in Nigeria's South East geopolitical zone. The indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs in livestock production is a recognised driver of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses serious threats to both animal and human health. Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, structured questionnaires were administered to 160 livestock farmers across four local government areas in Anambra State. Information was collected on the types of drugs administered, prescription practices, sources of drugs, adherence to withdrawal periods, and farmer knowledge of AMR. Findings revealed that 78 percent of farmers obtained antimicrobials from agroveterinary shops without veterinary prescriptions. Oxytetracycline was the most commonly used antibiotic, used by 82 percent of respondents, often at sub-therapeutic doses. Only 19 percent of farmers were aware of withdrawal periods for any antimicrobial drug they administered. Knowledge of AMR was poor across all respondent categories, with only 23 percent able to define antimicrobial resistance in basic terms. Formal veterinary consultation was sought by fewer than 15 percent of respondents before administering drugs. The study identifies the regulatory gap in antimicrobial retail as the most critical systemic failure requiring intervention. Recommendations include strict enforcement of prescription-only policies, farmer education campaigns, and strengthened veterinary extension services targeting Anambra State livestock producers. Keywords: antimicrobial stewardship, livestock, drug use, Anambra State, antimicrobial resistance.