An official website of the United States government.
<OL> <LI>Implement clinical trials to test three management hypotheses (calves supplemented with oral IgG through the preweaning period require fewer antibiotic treatments and have less resistant commensal and pathogenic bacteria, calves supplemented with additional energy and protein for growth (via milk replacer) during the preweaning period require fewer antibiotic treatments and have a less resistant flora, and high risk calves (identified as FPT and low body weight) which are managed and monitored with a higher intensity compared to low risk calves result in fewer antibiotic treatments for the entire cohort (low and high risk calves) and less resistance; <LI>Implement an educational program for calf-rearing producers that incorporates the results from the clinical trials and emphasizes non-antibiotic approaches to calf rearing; <LI>Implement an educational program for food animal veterinarians (dairy and confined calf rearing expertise) that incorporate the results from the clinical trials and emphasize non-antibiotic approaches to calf rearing; <LI>Implement an educational module to be used to instruct college and MPVM students regarding the issues of antibiotic resistance in animal agriculture and use the research expertise gained from this study to develop an appreciation for science-based decision management.
Non-Technical Summary: There is concern about the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture and its significance in the occurrence of AR. The research and educational initiatives outlined in this research proposal are intended to fill a knowledge gap regarding alternatives to antibiotics used in calf rearing. <P> Approach: Objective 1: Calf rearing facilities in the three states will be identified. It is proposed that a total of five farms will be included in the study and all trials will be conducted and analyzed as a multi-site clinical trial. Farms will be selected based on their willingness to cooperate in the study, sufficient size to enroll calves into the proposed studies within a 2-week period, ability to provide sufficient records for follow-up assessments of productivity and economics, and willingness to serve as a demonstration farm for the educational components of the study. For all trials, calves will be enrolled into the trial on the day of their arrival on the farm or ranch. A health record will be started and either attached to the hutch or maintained by data collectors and related to calf based on animal identification. The research will not alter the management practices on the farm nor change the routine work performed by the ranch/farm personnel. Objective 2: Producer education programs can take the form of workshops and meetings, demonstration farms, educational booklets, CD-ROM, and web-based information delivery. It is the purpose of this project to provide an educational program in management alternatives to or reduction of antibiotics in calf-rearing facilities in three different delivery formats: an educational booklet, a CD-ROM, and a website. This objective will be met by the development and evaluation of these 3 different methods of educational delivery to producers who raise calves. Objective 3: This part of the project will begin with a needs assessment and research to identify practice and learning needs among food animal practitioners with regards to calf management consulting and medical services. For this project, the learning stage theory will be used to draft practice scenarios (problems) and responses that will elucidate needs of the practitioners.Two methods will be employed to assess needs of practitioners with regards to calf management and alternatives to antimicrobial use. One group of practitioners will be mailed a survey and one will be sent the survey by email. Using the stages of learning assessment data and some attitude and knowledge questions about the issues of antimicrobial resistance and calf management strategies, the workshop curriculum will be developed and marketed. The program will focus on the results of the project research in ways that practitioners can develop new services for their clients. Objective 4: The teaching module for college students will be developed around the public policy issues in antimicrobial resistance and will include: the use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture, the steps taken in developing research to address those issues, the results of the research, and how the research data can be used to make science-based farm management decisions about antimicrobial use. The programs will likely be delivered either within a discussion or laboratory time or as an extra-curricular event. The program will be targeting future leaders in animal agriculture and veterinary medicine.