Feed Ingredient Reduces E. Coli

April 25, 2002

A new feed ingredient that contains probiotics or so-called "good bacteria" can reduce the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in live cattle by as much as 50%, according to research from the AMI (American Meat Institute) Foundation. The research was done by Mindy Brashears, Ph.D., and Michael Galyean, Ph.D., of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.

Brashears and Galyean fed 180 steers one of three diets: a standard diet of grain and roughage, which served as the control group, or a standard diet that also included one of two strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, much like the bacteria commonly added to yogurt.

Researchers conducted the study during the summer months, when cattle are known to shed more E. coli O157:H7. The numbers of cattle testing positive for E. coli O157:H7 varied from 18 to 19 percent during the mid-feeding period to less than 10 percent near slaughter. The cattle fed the probiotics, however, showed major reductions in incidence rates. The group of cattle fed one particular strain known as NPC 750 saw a 50 percent drop in the incidence of E. coli. O157:H7.

In addition to reducing this pathogen, the probiotic is extremely cost-effective. The researchers estimate the cost of feed supplementation at roughly one cent per animal per day. The low costs are offset by improvements in feed conversion.

AMI Foundation Vice President of Scientific Affairs Randall Huffman, Ph.D., said that the new research is another tool in the food safety toolbox that can help make the U.S. beef supply even safer.

The research is part of a comprehensive Food Safety Initiative funded by U.S. meat and poultry companies and administered by the AMI Foundation. The initiative's goal is to reduce and cultimately eliminate E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes on meat and poultry products.

To view the report in a PDF file, visit http://www.amif.org/ProbioticsReport042302.pdf. To view the report in a Word file, visit http://www.amif.org/ProbioticsReport042302.doc. To view the research in its entirety, visit the AMI Foundation web site at http://www.amif.org.