Students get hands-on animal experience

More than 1,000 students have completed a hands-on course at the University of Illinois in Urbana designed to teach the basics of working with farm animals in labs. Nearly 85% of students enrolled in the Working with Farm Animals (or ANSC 103) have little to no experience working with animals in a farm setting.
The course was developed when professors noticed that fewer students understood the basics of working with farm animals. Currently 80% of animal science majors enroll in this experiential learning course during their program. In the fall, this course will become mandatory with a goal for all animal science students to take this class before they begin advanced courses.

FDA to investigate restricting antibiotic use in livestock

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg stated in a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing that the FDA is investigating regulatory pathways to restrict antibiotic use in farm animals. Some members of the congressional panel questioned the evidence that antibiotic use in livestock is associated with the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens of significance to humans.
Rep. Tom Latham, R-Iowa, invited Dr. Hamburg to visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Center at Ames, Iowa, and gather scientific information from producer organizations.