Global One Health Recognition Highlights Dairy Training Program Co-Developed by Ohio State
Originally Published
A dairy worker training program co-developed by The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine has earned international recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations through its "One Health in Agrifood Systems" initiative. The program was selected from approximately 340 applications worldwide for its innovative approach to improving animal health, workforce development and responsible antimicrobial use.
The recognition highlights a collaborative effort between Ohio State and UC Davis Weill School of Veterinary Medicine to develop and evaluate training resources designed for dairy workers, managers and veterinarians. The resulting bilingual program, Early and Accurate Disease Detection in Dairy Cattle, provides practical, research-based education focused on disease recognition, treatment decision-making and antimicrobial stewardship.
At Ohio State, Greg Habing, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVPM, professor and vice chair in the Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, and Rafael Portillo-Gonzalez, DVM, MS, PhD, postdoctoral researcher, worked with UC Davis collaborators on a project involving 18 large dairy farms in Ohio and California.
The team developed training modules and implemented them on participating farms to evaluate their impact on worker knowledge, practical skills, antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance. Portillo-Gonzalez led on-farm implementation efforts, including training primarily Spanish-speaking dairy employees and overseeing the quantification of antimicrobial use across participating operations.
After demonstrating measurable improvements in workers' knowledge and skills, the team expanded the effort by creating free online training modules based on the same educational materials. The bilingual courses cover antimicrobial use and resistance, treatment protocols, and early identification of common dairy cattle diseases, making evidence-based training accessible to dairy operations across the United States and beyond.
The online program includes six modules covering antibiotic resistance, disease identification and treatment concepts and is available in both English and Spanish. Participants who complete the full curriculum receive a certificate of completion.
According to FAO, the program was recognized for its potential to strengthen the frontline One Health workforce, improve animal care and support responsible antimicrobial use. Since its launch, the resource has attracted thousands of visits and has been adopted by dairy workers, managers and veterinarians seeking practical tools to improve herd health outcomes.
The international recognition underscores the impact of Ohio State's contributions to advancing One Health solutions that benefit animal agriculture, public health and the sustainability of food production systems.