Out of control

WHO report declares antimicrobial resistance 'a global security threat'

In May the World Health Organization (WHO) issued its global report on antibiotic resistance stating that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) “is now a global security threat.” And although the report acknowledges a more disciplined approach to the use of human antibiotic therapy it had a strong message for the food animal industry as well. The situation […] Read more

Better tests for trich and vibrio

Research on the Record

Trichomoniasis (trich, or “trick”) and bovine genital campylobacteriosis (vibrio) are venereal diseases that cause early embryonic death, repeat breeding, large numbers of open cows at the end of the breeding season, an extended calving season, and enormous economic losses. The microbes that cause trich and vibrio live in the reproductive tracts of infected cattle, but […] Read more


Seeking Credibility

Two recent events jumped agriculture’s role in the antimicrobial resistance merry-go-round into high gear. First was the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Final Guidance 213 (December 2013) that established a three-year time frame to end the use of medically important antibiotics as growth promotants. There were also new rules on veterinary oversight related to antibiotic […] Read more