An intensive new study will track beef feedlot management practices in Alberta to determine whether beef production is linked to antibiotic resistance in humans.
The two-year study has received $976,462 in funding from the beef industry, through the Canada Alberta Beef Industry Development Fund administered by the Alberta Cattle Commission.
Ronald Read, a University of Calgary faculty of medicine assistant professor with extensive experience in microbiology and infectious diseases, will lead the project.
While there’s no question antibiotic resistance in humans is a serious consideration worldwide, there is much speculation on the source of the resistance.
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Some experts speculate that antibiotic resistance is linked to the overuse of antimicrobials to prevent and treat human diseases, particularly common ones such as colds, ear infections and flu.
Others argue that drug resistance in bacteria in humans is due to the widespread use of antimicrobials in livestock production to control disease and increase productivity.
The Alberta beef industry is taking a proactive approach to determine whether or not beef production practices are contributing to the issue and if so, to find management alternatives.
“With increasing frequency, the use of antimicrobials in livestock production is being speculatively linked to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria,” Read said.
“Currently, however, the objective evidence linking the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in humans with the use of antibiotics in livestock is circumstantial and the true risk of creating and spreading resistance is unknown.
“What scientists do know is that cases of antimicrobial resistance in humans are on the rise, and that presents a serious threat to the medical treatment of infectious disease in humans.”
In the new study, researchers will track beef management from initial feedlot production practices through to the meat that eventually reaches the consumer.
It brings together a team of scientists, some from the medical community, others with expertise in all stages of beef production.
“This research will determine how susceptible target bacteria are to antimicrobials commonly used in intensive beef feedlots in Western Canada,” said Read.
“We will follow the target bacteria through the feeding period in order to determine whether the bacterial susceptibility we observe changes when the cattle are exposed to various antimicrobials.”
Antibiotics are a vital management tool for beef production, especially for feedlot operations, said CABIDF committee chair and cattle producer Larry Helland.
At the same time, he said the beef industry recognizes that the future sustainability of cattle production rests with the proven safety of these practices.
“Clearly antibiotic resistance is an issue that is under some scrutiny throughout the world,” said Helland.
“While antibiotics are an important technology for healthy and productive beef cattle, we want to ensure that their use is not contributing to antibiotic resistance in humans.”
