CULTIVAR DEVELOPMENT: ACCELERATED INTROGRESSION OF SYNTHETIC HEXAPLOID DERIVED DIVERSITY INTO AN APPLIED HARD WINTER WHEAT BREEDING PROGRAM

Our goal in this proposed project is to improve goat milk quality through efficacious and prudent treatment programs that maintain food safety, and to create and disseminate an educational outreach program to stakeholders on how to implement these strategies. The central hypothesis is that application of approaches demonstrated to benefit antimicrobial stewardship and minimize AMR development in dairy cattle can be foundational for similarly effective strategies in dairy goats. This hypothesis is based on previous research results showing successful use of dry-off antimicrobial therapy in dairy goatsand the successful implementation of selective treatment programs in dairy cattle. Additionally, despite widespread use of antimicrobials in the treatment of mastitis in dairy cattle, development of antimicrobial resistance has been minimal. Lastly, while no dry-off antimicrobial products are labeled for use in lactating dairy goats, residue detection test kits are available that are labeled for use with goat milk that will be able to detect antimicrobial residues to levels below US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tolerances for the drug residues in dairy cattle. This will reduce the risk for antimicrobial residues in does treated with intramammary (IMM) antimicrobials. We will attain the overall goal of this project via implementation of the following objectives:Objective 1. Determine the antimicrobial residue depletion profile in milk and meat of goats following the administration of dry cow intramammary antimicrobials. Our working hypothesis is that the time for the residues to deplete will be longer than the time required for the drugs to deplete in dairy cows.Objective 2. Utilizing a selective approach, determine the efficacy of dry cow antimicrobial products for the treatment of infections present at the end of the lactating period in the goat. Our working hypothesis is that selective utilization of dry-off intramammary antimicrobial programs will be efficacious towards improving milk quality and decreasing antimicrobial use compared to blanket dry-off therapy of all does.Objective 3. Determine whether the implementation of dry cow antimicrobial programs result in the development of antimicrobial resistance in dairy goats. Our working hypothesis is that the implementation of dry cow antimicrobial programs will not increase AMR in dairy goats and decrease the selective pressure for resistance.Objective 4. Develop a comprehensive producer education program to be delivered via Extension offerings that demonstrates how established on farm mastitis prevention strategies, coupled with a judicious antimicrobial approach, can minimize antimicrobial resistance and preserve food safety. Our working hypothesis is that we can impact implementation of best management practices (BMP's) through centralized distribution of educational materials on milk quality improvement and efficacious therapy based on research completed on modern goat operations.