The Canadian Dairy Network for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance

Project Overview

The Canadian Dairy Network for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance (CaDNetASR) features a surveillance framework for antimicrobial use and resistance data alongside management and risk factor information. This data facilitates analysis of trends in antimicrobial practices associated with treatment decisions and regulatory actions. There is a need to maintain CaDNetASR operations and expand the scope to integrate new tools for implementing on-farm treatment protocols based on standardized case definitions. Additionally, the creation of interactive benchmark statistics on antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns is warranted to support producers and veterinarians to make informed decisions around antimicrobial stewardship.

The overall objective of this project is to maintain the CaDNetASR program to monitor AMR, benchmark on-farm antimicrobial use, and develop educational tools to support dairy farmers. This research aims at offering evidence-based tools and resources to help reduce AMU, prevent or reduce AMR and enhance animal health on dairy farms.

What Will the Research Team Do?

The research team will; (i) continue the CaDNetASR surveillance system through 2025, including monitoring pharmaceutical sales, collecting on-farm fecal samples for antimicrobial sensitivity testing, and maintaining databases; (ii) develop, validate, and implement treatment protocols for neonatal calf diarrhea and respiratory disease, employing standardized case definitions, followed by evaluation through controlled studies to assess their impact on animal health and AMR; (iii) develop a benchmarking tool for AMU and resistance data for veterinarian and dairy farmer use; and (iv) update and expand existing antimicrobial stewardship educational programs for veterinarians and farmers that will be evaluated for efficacy using qualitative and quantitative measures.

The objectives of this project are to:

1. Monitor human and bovine pathogens recovered from dairy farms and their AMR profile. Sentinel farms from 5 provinces are providing data on-farm AMU and AMR of selected bacteria from 2019. Objectives 2, 3, and 4 will use these farms and their data to measure the impact of the antimicrobial stewardship interventions and education on AMU and AMR.
2. Implement validated treatment protocols for common diseases in calves (respiratory disease and diarrhea) and assess the efficacy of the treatment protocols on animal health and welfare, as well as the farms’ AMR profiles. 
3. Provide farmers and veterinarians with an AMU benchmarking tool that gives them feedback on the types and amounts of antimicrobials used on-farm and that are prescribed by dairy veterinary practices. This will allow for assessment of overall AMU as well the use of critically important antimicrobials compared to those of lesser importance to human health.
4. Create and test antimicrobial stewardship education and extension programs that will improve antimicrobial stewardship in the Canadian dairy industry, both for farmers and veterinarians.