Report

As antimicrobial resistance continues to challenge both veterinary and human medicine, reducing antibiotic use in dairy herds has become a global priority. But what if bovine mastitis could be controlled using highly targeted antimicrobial proteins instead of conventional antibiotics? In this article, researchers from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and the Polish Academy of Sciences present the latest findings from the PrevEco project, exploring the potential of bacteriocins and enzybiotics as innovative tools for mastitis prevention and treatment. From the discovery of novel antimicrobial molecules to laboratory studies, animal models, and the first pilot field trials, the project demonstrates how combinations of these naturally derived compounds could selectively eliminate major mastitis pathogens while preserving the udder microbiota. Although further validation is still required, these antibiotic-free strategies may become valuable additions to integrated mastitis control programmes, opening new opportunities for sustainable dairy production.