Table 2.

Farmer perceptions of the economics of disease and antimicrobial use.

Farmers shared the opinion that disease problems had a negative effect on the profitability of the farm

“We must pay for treatment; pig grow slowly, and can transmit diseases to healthy pigs.” “It causes losses of pigs, reduced weight gain and then causes economic losses for the family.” “We have to pay for medicines, effects on productivity, we have to feed longer.”

Farmer perceptions of whether there is an economic advantage to the use of antimicrobials in pigs

Economic advantage to antimicrobial use in pigs: “Pigs are healthy after treatment so I can sell it as planned.” “We can prevent diseases, pigs can grow quickly, farmer feels able to do their job.” “Yes, because it decreases outbreak of diseases.” No economic advantage of antimicrobial use in pigs: “Good prevention makes healthy pigs, so that saves money. When pigs are ill, we must spend money for treatment, so that we lose money.” “No. We have to pay for antibiotics for treatment.”