Researchers at Iowa State’s College of Veterinary Medicine received two grants that will fund a study on swine that carry bacteria. The two grants amount to $385,000.

George Beran, professor of microbiology, immunology and preventive medicine, and James McKean, associate director of the Iowa Pork Industry Center, are in charge of the project.

The study will involve researchers examining different systems used to raise pigs in order to determine which methods result in less frequent cases of bacteria.

The bacteria — salmonella, yersinia and camplylobacter — cause diarrhea and other sicknesses in humans, according to a press release.

Disease caused by the bacteria-infected swine is called foodborne disease.

“The United States sees about four million cases of human foodborne disease each year caused by these three microorganisms,” Beran said in a press release. “We hope to learn more about how the bacteria are spread from animal to animal. If the pathogens can be reduced on the farm, it’s less likely they will get into the food chain.”

According to Beran, bacteria in swine is extremely common, and he said all herds tend to have at least one animal infected with bacteria that causes foodborne disease.

Beran applied for the grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Services.

The researchers were very happy to receive the grant, which Beran said is very “competitive.”

The project received $272,744 from the Food Safety and Inspection Services, as well as an additional $112,464 from the Food Safety Consortium, which consists of researchers from ISU, the University of Arkansas and Kansas State University.

“We really want to do this study and we feel that it is extremely important for the swine industry in Iowa. We are very glad that we have this support,” Beran said.

Funding for the study was received this September, but the research team began a preliminary project last year, Beran said.

The researchers expect results from the preliminary study in about eight months, he said.

The four farms chosen for the study are located near Ames and in North Carolina.

“Safety of our meat in terms of diseases carried is of great attention right now. Food safety is a major priority,” said Beran. “This [study] is very important. We’ve got to control foodborne pathogens if we want to be competitive in trade, and protect ourselves from disease.”