Effects of the transportation of beef cattle from the feedyard to the packing plant on prevalence levels of Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella spp.
Two hundred steers and heifers from a large feedyard (65,000-head capacity) were used to determine the prevalence levels of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 (EHEC O157) and Salmonella spp. prior to and after shipping to a commercial packing facility. Two samples, a ventral midline hide swab and a fecal sample, were aseptically collected from each animal 2 weeks prior to the date of transportation and at the packing plant immediately after exsanguination. Samples were collected from all trailers (n = 46) before animals were loaded for transport to the packing facility. The average prevalence levels of EHEC O157 on hides (18%) and in feces (9.5%) at the feedyard decreased (P > 0.05) at the packing plant to 4.5 and 5.5%, respectively. The average prevalence levels of Salmonella spp. on hides (6%) and in feces (18%) at the feedyard increased to 89 and 46%, respectively, upon arrival at the packing plant. Average prevalence levels for EHEC O157 and Salmonella spp. on the trailers were 5.43 and 59%, respectively. The results of this study demonstrate that transportation may be a potential stressor for cattle, as evidenced by the increased shedding of Salmonella spp.
Barham
A R
AR
Animal Science and Food Technology, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409, USA. mfmrraider@aol.com
Barham
B L
BL
Johnson
A K
AK
Allen
D M
DM
Blanton
J R
JR
Miller
M F
MF
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012475:Salmonella / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012481:Salmonella Infections, Animal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D014186:Transportation