U of G research drives smarter antibiotic use in dairy herds

In veterinary circles, it’s widely understood that, like in human medicine, using antimicrobial treatments to improve animal welfare will eventually contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Slowly, but surely, bacteria that cause diseases in people are acquiring more resistance to medications used to treat those infections.

“Antibiotic-resistant disease is still very much the exception in dairy cattle, not the rule,” said Dr. Stephen LeBlanc, a veterinarian and professor working in dairy cattle health management at the University of Guelph, and a Food from Thought researcher.

“But all sectors of animal agriculture and veterinary medicine still have to do their part to practice prudent use,” said LeBlanc, who is also director of Dairy at Guelph — The Centre for Dairy Research and Innovation.

“That selection pressure, or creation of resistance, is a very broad-based problem. The adage is that, ‘Antimicrobial use anywhere will, in the long run, contribute to antimicrobial resistance everywhere.’ ”

A series of research projects funded by Food from Thought and the Ontario Agri-Food Innovation Alliance are informing the refinement and development of antimicrobial stewardship programs and practices that are relevant to dairy operations across Canada.

Read more about research results and next steps toward addressing AMR: U of G Research Drives Smarter Antibiotic Use in Dairy Herds - Food from Thought