Post by Tricia on Dec 18, 2007 5:46:17 GMT -5
This I read in Country Folks yesterday:
Manhattan KS
Ethanol Plants are Livestock producers have created a symbiotic relationship. Cattle producers feed their livestock distiller's grains, a byproduct of the ethanol distilling process, giving ethanol producers and added source of income.
But recent research at Kansas State University has found that cattle fed distiller's grain have an increased prevalence of E-coli 0157 in their hindgut. The particular type of E-coli is present in healthy cattle but poses a health risk to humans, who can acquire it through undercooked meat, raw dairy products and produce contaminated with cattle manure.
"Distiller's grain is a good animal feed. That's why ethanol plants are often built next to feedlots." said T.G. Nagaraja, a professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at K-State College of Veterinary Medicine.
The growth of ethanol plants means more cattle are likely to be fed distiller's grain, therefore harboring 0157 and potentially a source of health risks to humans. Nagaraja said. That's why he and Jim Drouillard, K-State professor of animals sciences, have been collaborating on testing distiller's grain-fed cattle for 0157. Nagaraja and Drouillard, who studied the carcass quality of cattle fed distiller's grain are joined by Megan Jacob, a K-State doctoral student in pathobiology. Through three rounds of testing, Nagaraja said the prevalence of -157 was about twice as high in cattle fed distiller's grain compared to those cattle that were on a diet lacking the ethanol byproduct.
"This is very interesting observation and is likely to have profound implications in food safety, " Nagaraja said.
Food Safety and animal health research are priorities at K-State which since 1999 has dedicated more than $70 million on research related to animal safety. More than 150 K-Staters are actively involved in these areas.
Nagaraja said research in the next few years will focus on finding why 0157 is more prevalent in cattle fed a distiller's grain diet. He said it could be something that changes in the animals' hindgut as a result of feeding distiller's grains or maybe the byproduct provides a nutrient for the bacteria.
"Feeding cattle distiller's grain is a big economic advantage for the ethanol plants, " Nagaraja said. " We realize we can't tell cattle producers, Don't feed distiller's grains. What we want to do is not only understand the reasons why 0157 increases, but also find a way to prevent in from happening."
GEE, did they every think to just stop feeding it!!!! It is bad, stop doing it.. But no someone is making money so they can't! Never mind the crap on our vegetables!.
I also thought that 0157 wasn't in cows on the natural diet of grass with little grain.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT PAGE!!!!
Manhattan KS
Ethanol Plants are Livestock producers have created a symbiotic relationship. Cattle producers feed their livestock distiller's grains, a byproduct of the ethanol distilling process, giving ethanol producers and added source of income.
But recent research at Kansas State University has found that cattle fed distiller's grain have an increased prevalence of E-coli 0157 in their hindgut. The particular type of E-coli is present in healthy cattle but poses a health risk to humans, who can acquire it through undercooked meat, raw dairy products and produce contaminated with cattle manure.
"Distiller's grain is a good animal feed. That's why ethanol plants are often built next to feedlots." said T.G. Nagaraja, a professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at K-State College of Veterinary Medicine.
The growth of ethanol plants means more cattle are likely to be fed distiller's grain, therefore harboring 0157 and potentially a source of health risks to humans. Nagaraja said. That's why he and Jim Drouillard, K-State professor of animals sciences, have been collaborating on testing distiller's grain-fed cattle for 0157. Nagaraja and Drouillard, who studied the carcass quality of cattle fed distiller's grain are joined by Megan Jacob, a K-State doctoral student in pathobiology. Through three rounds of testing, Nagaraja said the prevalence of -157 was about twice as high in cattle fed distiller's grain compared to those cattle that were on a diet lacking the ethanol byproduct.
"This is very interesting observation and is likely to have profound implications in food safety, " Nagaraja said.
Food Safety and animal health research are priorities at K-State which since 1999 has dedicated more than $70 million on research related to animal safety. More than 150 K-Staters are actively involved in these areas.
Nagaraja said research in the next few years will focus on finding why 0157 is more prevalent in cattle fed a distiller's grain diet. He said it could be something that changes in the animals' hindgut as a result of feeding distiller's grains or maybe the byproduct provides a nutrient for the bacteria.
"Feeding cattle distiller's grain is a big economic advantage for the ethanol plants, " Nagaraja said. " We realize we can't tell cattle producers, Don't feed distiller's grains. What we want to do is not only understand the reasons why 0157 increases, but also find a way to prevent in from happening."
GEE, did they every think to just stop feeding it!!!! It is bad, stop doing it.. But no someone is making money so they can't! Never mind the crap on our vegetables!.
I also thought that 0157 wasn't in cows on the natural diet of grass with little grain.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FRONT PAGE!!!!