Judicious Use of Antibiotics in Dairy Production to Mitigate Antimicrobial Resistance: Characterizing Colostrum Microbiota After Selective Antibiotic Therapy
Principal Investigator: Daryl Nydam
Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences
Email: dvn2@cornell.edu
Sponsor: Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future (ACSF)
Title: Judicious Use of Antibiotics in Dairy Production to Mitigate Antimicrobial Resistance: Characterizing Colostrum Microbiota After Selective Antibiotic Therapy
Project Amount: $139,735
Project Period: July 2016 to June 2017
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):
Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use in food animals is an important public health goal and a critical step for sustainable agriculture. Working with local dairy farms, the researchers will study the common industry practice of administering antibiotics to cows at the end of their lactation to cure existing infections and prevent mastitis. The team will survey farmers and screen colostrum (first milk) to detect antibiotic residues and resistance genes that reach calves at their first feeding. Low‐risk cows might do just as well with no treatment—making dairy production more cost‐efficient and slowing the spread of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria.