Diamond V and NADC explore alternatives to antibiotics
Diamond V and the National Animal Disease Centre (NADC) are starting a project to examine the impact of antibiotics, dietary supplements, and stress on the microbial communities of the swine intestinal ecosystem.
The goal is to identify alternatives to traditional antibiotics for use in reducing the antibiotic resistance gene reservoir and food borne pathogens in farm animals.
Diamond V, headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is supplier of microbial fermentation products that are used to optimize digestive function and nutrition.
The NADC (part of the US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service) in Ames, Iowa, is the largest federal animal disease centre in the United States.
Research is conducted there to solve the animal health and food safety problems faced by livestock producers and the public.
The NADC is uniquely equipped to conduct research to examine the impact of dietary components on the composition and activities of gastrointestinal bacteria of farm animals.
“Both ARS and Diamond V share a common interest in discovering alternatives to traditional antibiotics for farm animal growth and for the production of a safe and secure food supply in the US and around the world,” says John Bloomhall, President and CEO, Diamond V.
“Together, we’ll develop an in-depth understanding of the path from the diet through the intestinal microbiome to healthy animals and safe food.”
The collaborative research will be directed by Dr. Thad Stanton, Research Leader, NADC Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research Unit (FSEPRU) and Dr. Jason Frank, Director-Swine Research, Diamond V.
