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The USDA Economic Research service estimated a cost to the U.S. of up to $37.1 billion dollars annually due to illnesses from just the top seven food borne pathogens and antibiotic resistance in food borne pathogens (linked to antibiotic use in livestock) exacerbates the problem. The proposed research project includes techniques in microbiology, immunology and agricultural sciences that will be combined to create a balanced system for the research of food safety and sustainable production methods.
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The overall objectives are: <OL> <LI> To determine the E. coli O157:H7 contamination in goats and sheep (and meat products) and the level of antibiotic resistance. <LI> To determine differences in E. coli O157:H7 between goats and sheep produced using an alternative to antibiotics in the feed.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Food borne illnesses make many people sick every year and antibiotic resistance makes those illnesses even worse. This project is designed to determine issues of antibiotic resistance in hair sheep and meat goats and to determine if probiotics could be an antibiotic alternative.
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APPROACH: In one experiment, E. coli O157:H7 contamination in small ruminants and meat products (and meat products) and the level of antibiotic resistant organisms will be studied. Samples of rumen contents, feces and carcass washes will be collected at slaughter From at least 12 castrated male meat goats and 12 castrated male hair sheep at market weight. Samples will be tested for E. coli O157:H7 by enrichment and immunomagnetic separation. Microbial cultures will be tested by disk diffusion method for resistance to the following veterinary antibiotics: ampicillin, penicillin, oxytetracycline and tetracycline. In a second experiment, similar methods will be used on samples collected from at least 30 castrated male meat goats and 30 castrated male hair sheep fed traditional, medicated feed (15 animals/species/feeding regime) or feed with an all natural supplement available commercially (probiotics) at manufacturer recommended dosages.