New Vaccine Against Cattle Diseases Could Help Reduce Antibiotics Use

A newly patented vaccine by Kansas State University researchers could be good news for meat consumers, as well as for cattle and those who care for them.

The researchers developed a solution that could provide effective, antibiotic-free prevention of Fusobacterium necrophorum infection. The bacterium afflicts sheep and cattle with liver abscesses, calf diphtheria and foot rot or abscesses.

Lead researcher Sanjeev K. Narayanan, from the university’s College of Veterinary Medicine, said the vaccine offers an alternative to the antibiotics currently used to control these infections.

“This way, we don’t expose people’s food to bacteria that have acquired resistance to many antibiotics, so the vaccine protects both animals and humans,” he said.

The vaccine is currently in testing for cattle, and may eventually be available for sheep and for people – click here to read more.

In other news, the Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (CRSB) has devised a new strategy to advance sustainability efforts following a two-year study of the environmental, social, and economic performance of the Canadian beef industry.

“The results reflect positively on the Canadian beef industry,” noted Fawn Jackson, Executive Director of the CRSB. “However, there are still opportunities for improvement, as well as areas in which industry wants to continue to excel.”

Key points for action in the sustainability strategy include optimising diets, genetics and manure management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, benefiting nature by improving habitats on beef farms and researching biodiversity relationships, and improving financial viability of the industry – read more.