Where the Cow Breathes - Antimicrobial Resistance in Rural South Africa is a short documentary film produced by young people from the village of Lambasi in Lusikisiki, Eastern Cape.
The film explores the challenges farmers face when cows fall ill, including the use of traditional medicines. When veterinary medication is unaffordable, farmers may rely on a single treatment for multiple diseases, thereby contributing to antimicrobial resistance. The film also highlights how failing to rotate grazing pastures can negatively affect animal health. For this reason, farmers in Lambasi emphasise the importance of practising rotational grazing to maintain animal health.
Film by: Yamkela Mkwedini, Nkosana Khafula, Silindile Magubha
Music by: Lurah and Khanyisile Qha
This film is part of AMRoots, a Trinity Challenge-funded project led by University of Cape Town researcher Helen McllIeron, with support from Meat Naturally Africa and Conservation Exposure Education & Training (CEET). The project explores how antibiotics are used and how resistance develops across people, animals, and the environment in rural communities. We’re really happy to have been able to collaborate on community engagement and citizen research aspects of the project, with these films being one of the outputs.