With the devastating effects of the E-coli outbreak in Germany being played out in the media, the results of a U.S. study on the increased shedding of another strain of the bacteria by cattle fed corn DDGs is getting more attention than it normally would . The U.S. study linked increased levels of E-coli 0157 being shed by cattle to the increase in corn DDGs being fed to those cattle. That research triggered a study by Canadian Researchers to determine if those same results could be found in Canadian cattle.
E-coli 0157 is a strain of the bacteria that can cause kidney failure, bloody diarrhea and death. While the incidents of exposure to this bacteria have not increased, any potential for increased exposure deserves a closer look.
Dr. Tim McAllister is a research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada at the Lethbridge Research Station. He is one of the Canadian researchers who decided to take a closer look at the results of that U.S. study, with a similar study of Canadian cattle. I spoke with him about the results of that study.
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