Nine US research grants totaling $1.2 million to reduce antibiotic use in livestock

With the goal of optimizing the use of antibiotics in livestock, the International Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship in Agriculture (ICASA) has awarded nine grants to develop management strategies that improve judicious antibiotic use in swine and beef cattle, according to recent release.

According to the portal drivers.com, most of the research is aimed at studying the pathology of the liver of cattle, including certain types of bacteria and their role in the formation of liver abscesses.

Additionally, ICASA awarded three grants to develop management strategies in the prevention and treatment of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae (M. hyosynoviae) in swine.

This bacterium causes respiratory disease and lameness in pigs, contributing to economic loss and decreased animal welfare, and is a major driver of antibiotic use in swine production.

ICASA also funded a project that improves the collection, analysis and reporting of feedlot antibiotic usage data, which can potentially impact how corporations and regulatory agencies formulate policies on antimicrobial use in beef cattle.

SOURCE: vetandlife by materials drovers.com