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<p>Our objectives are to describe the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella spp. and generic E. coli recovered from intensively managed cattle operations,and to identify patterns of antimicrobial use and other factors which promote the development of antimicrobial resistance of bacteria in these operations.</p>
<p>We will accomplish these objectives using intensive monitoring of dairy and feedlot cattle populations. Byaccomplishing these objectives,we expect to obtain detailed information which will help to fill the void of information regarding the development of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in cattle operations, and lead to the development of practical intervention programs.</p>
<p>Antimicrobial drugs are commonly used in food animal production for the treatment of clinical disease and for the enhancement of animal performance. Recently, the use of antimicrobial drugs in food animals has been implicated as an important cause for the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria of public health concern. However, there is little morethan circumstantial evidence that this use of antimicrobial drugs poses a serious public health risk. In particular,there is little evidence upon which to base changes in food animal production practices which might reduce any potential public health risk.</p>
<p>Our goal is to describe the on-farm ecology of Salmonella spp. and generic E. coli antimicrobial resistance patterns in intensively managed cattle operations. We have chosen this goal because beef products are an important vehicle for the food-borne transmission of bacteria. Salmonella and generic E. coli represent an important food-borne pathogen anda normal inhabitant of the bovine intestinal tract, respectively.</p>