Survey of Salmonella Serotypes Shed in Feces of Beef Cows and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns

2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 1648-1653 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. DARGATZ ◽  
P. J. FEDORKA-CRAY ◽  
S. R. LADELY ◽  
K. E. FERRIS

Salmonella prevalence on cow-calf operations was studied as a part of a national study of health and management of the U.S. beef cow-calf industry and was conducted as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System. Within this study, the prevalence of Salmonella spp. shed in feces was determined. A total of 5,049 fecal samples were collected from 187 beef cow-calf operations each visited on a single occasion. The number of fecal samples collected per operation was predetermined based on herd size. Salmonellae were recovered from 1 or more fecal samples collected on 11.2% (21 of 187) of the operations. Overall 78 salmonellae representing 22 serotypes were recovered from 1.4% (70 of 5,049) of samples. Multiple serotypes were recovered from eight samples from a single operation. The five most common serotypes were Salmonella Oranienburg (21.8% of isolates), and Salmonella Cerro (21.8%), followed by Salmonella Anatum (10.3%), Salmonella Bredeney (9.0%), and Salmonella Mbandaka (5.1%). The most common serogroups identified were C1 (33.3%), K (21.8%), B (16.7%), and E (15.4%). Even though the recovery rate of salmonellae from fecal samples was very low, 43.6% (34 of 78) and 38.5% (30 of 78) of the isolates were among the 10 most common serotypes from cattle with clinical signs of disease or isolated from humans, respectively. The majority of the isolates (50 of 78; 64.1%) were recovered from fecal samples from two operations. All isolates were screened for resistance to a panel of 17 antimicrobics, and 87.2% (68 of 78) were susceptible to all of the antimicrobics. The resistant isolates were most commonly resistant to streptomycin (n = 9) and/or sulfamethoxazole (n = 9). Nine isolates showed multiple (≥2 antimicrobics) resistance most commonly to streptomycin and sulfamethoxazole (n = 6).

2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2107-2112 ◽  
Author(s):  
SAUMYA BHADURI ◽  
IRENE WESLEY

A national study was conducted for the isolation of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in pig feces in the United States as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System's Swine 2000 study. Fecal samples collected from swine operations from September 2000 to March 2001 from 77 production sites in 15 of the top 17 swine-producing states were tested for the presence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica. After enrichment of swine fecal samples in irgasan–ticarcillin–potassium chlorate broth, the enriched cultures were plated on cefsulodin-irgasan-novobiocin agar for isolation of presumptive Y. enterocolitica. The isolates were confirmed as pathogenic Y. enterocolitica by the fluorogenic 5′ nuclease PCR assay targeting the chromosomal attachment invasion ail gene. Of 2,793 fecal samples tested, 106 (3.80%) ail-positive strains of Y. enterocolitica were isolated. These 106 ail-positive isolates originated from 7 of the 15 participating states. The predominant serotype O:3 (n = 79 of 106) was distributed in five states (n = 5 of 7). Serotype O:5 (n = 27 of 106) was also found in five states (n = 5 of 7). All isolates contained the virulence plasmid and expressed virulence-associated phenotypic characteristics. These results indicate that swine in the United Stares harbor Y. enterocolitica that can potentially cause human illness.


2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 334
Author(s):  
Susana Astiz ◽  
Laura Cogollos ◽  
Juan Manuel Loste ◽  
Gorka Aduriz ◽  
Javier Heras ◽  
...  

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD), one of the most important infectious diseases affecting bovine production systems, is thought to show a subclinical course in most cases, especially in regions that have suffered high BVD prevalence for a long time. However, few studies have assessed this rigorously under non-epidemic conditions. Here we assessed how often active BVD infection in a herd, defined as at least one antigen-positive animal, is associated with clinical signs. Surveying and sampling methods were used to detect BVD infection based on clinical picture. Analysis of 1203 samples of individual animals from 167 herds clinically suspected of BVD infection showed that 33.7% of dairy farms, 30.6% of beef cow-calf farms and 40% of feedlots contained at least one animal positive for BVD viral antigen. Prevalence of BVD infection was 7.7% at the animal level, much higher than the prevalence of 1–3% reported in the literature. This suggests that clinical picture can be useful for detecting active BVD infection, and that infections show a variable clinical course. On dairy farms, the presence of at least one antigen-positive animal was associated with a tendency towards lower fertility and higher rates of stillbirths and calf health problems (P < 0.1). On feedlots, such presence was associated with a tendency to a higher of calf health problems. In beef cow-calf systems, however, the presence of an antigen-positive animal was not associated with any particular sign. These results suggest a higher association of active BVD infections spreading in a herd and clinical pictures at the herd level, particularly in dairy herds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 221-221
Author(s):  
Yuzhi Li ◽  
Alexander Hernandez ◽  
Rick Carr ◽  
Shelby Dukes ◽  
Maria Lou ◽  
...  

Abstract Swine parasites present challenges for organic pig farmers and represent suboptimal animal health because the use of synthetic anthelmintics is not allowed. The objective of this study was to investigate prevalence and fecal egg counts (FEC) of three intestinal parasites (Ascaris, Trichuris, and Oesophagostomum) on organic pig farms in the United States. Nine farms across 4 states were investigated. Pigs on all farms were raised within no-confinement facilities, had access to the outdoors or pasture except for one farm that housed sows in a hoop barn, and no use of synthetic anthelmintics from birth to market weight for growing/finishing pigs and from the third trimester of gestation for sows. Herd size varied from 12 to 416 (median=50) pigs. Four to 16 fecal samples were collected in each pen or pasture. A total of 186 samples were analyzed for FEC using the concentrated McMaster technique to yield eggs per gram (epg) of fecal samples. Pigs were categorized as breeders (gestating sows of all parity and boars), growing pigs (2 to 5 months old), or finishing pigs (5 months old to market weight). Results indicate that 56%, 89%, and 44% farms were infected with Oesophagostomum, Ascaris, and Trichuris, respectively. Overall, breeders on infected farms had higher (P=0.01) FEC of Oesophagostomum (1,115 epg ± 1,647 SD) than growing (60 epg ± 9.5 SD) and finishing pigs (237 epg ± 234 SD). Growing and finishing pigs had higher (P&lt; 0.001) FEC of Ascaris (1,733 epg ± 1,208 SD for growing pigs; 1,162 epg ± 630 SD for finishing pigs) than breeders (5 epg ± 2.5 SD). Trichuris FEC was relatively low (&lt; 80 epg for pigs in all production stages) compared to other parasites. Results suggest that swine parasite infection is common on organic/alternative farms and strategies to control parasites need to be developed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (10) ◽  
pp. 1778-1782 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. RILEY ◽  
J. T. GRAY ◽  
G. H. LONERAGAN ◽  
K. S. BARLING ◽  
C. C. CHASE

The proportion of fecal samples culture-positive for Escherichia coli O157:H7 was determined for samples collected from 296 beef cows on pasture in a single Florida herd in October, November, and December 2001. The overall proportion of samples that cultured positive was 0.03. The proportion of cows that were culture-positive on at least one occasion was 0.091. No effect of pregnancy status or nutritional regimen on the proportion of culture-positive samples for E. coli O157:H7 was detected. We detected a breed effect on the shedding of E. coli O157, with Romosinuano cows having a lower (P &lt; 0.01) proportion of samples culture-positive than Angus or Brahman cows. This difference might have resulted from the presence of confounding variables; however, it also might represent evidence of breed-to-breed genetic variation in E. coli O157 shedding. Further research is warranted to evaluate breed as a possible risk factor for shedding of this important foodborne pathogen. Further substantiated findings could indicate that breed is a cow-calf–level critical control point of E. coli O157:H7.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-236
Author(s):  
Miriam S Martin ◽  
Scott A Grau ◽  
Burt W Rutherford ◽  
Temple Grandin ◽  
Lily N Edwards-Callaway

Abstract The objective of this study was to benchmark how cow-calf producers were marketing their calves, their priorities when selecting replacements, and if producers saw value in a quality assessment focusing on animal handling and care. A total of 1,414 responses from cow-calf producers in 44 states were collected through a survey conducted in partnership with BEEF. Thirty questions were asked of respondents to gather demographic information, establish at what age and through what avenue respondents were marketing their calves, and gauge respondent perspectives on selection decisions, pain management and a quality assessment outlining handling and care guidelines. The percentage of respondents who marketed their calves at certain ages varied by herd size (P &lt; 0.001). Respondents with 50 head or less or more than 1,000 head most commonly retained their calves through finishing and respondents with 51 to 200 head and 201 head to 500 head more frequently backgrounded and then sold their calves. Respondents’ top priorities when selecting bulls were calving ease, followed by growth and feed efficiency traits. When selecting females, top priorities were reproductive efficiency, followed by mothering ability. The percentage of respondents using pain management differed by whether a veterinarian had offered to administer a drug for pain management (P &lt; 0.001). 13.5% of respondents answered yes, and a veterinarian had offered to administer a drug for pain management when castrating or dehorning. Of those 13.5% who responded yes pain management had been offered, and 54.55% of respondents chose to use a pain relief method. A higher percentage of respondents that precondition also more frequently indicated that they used a pain relief method when castrating or dehorning, though it was still a low percentage (P = 0.006). Overall, 46.3% of respondents saw value in handling and care guidelines and 54.9% of respondents saw value in a program including source and age verification, a vaccination plan, and handling and care guidelines. Respondents who were Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certified had a beef cow inventory of 501 to 1,000 head, who preconditioned their calves and backgrounded them before selling, and who lived in the West most commonly saw value in a quality assessment outlining handling and care guidelines.


1974 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 15-23
Author(s):  
Y. C. Chiang ◽  
R. B. Jensen ◽  
D. E. Kenyon ◽  
R. G. Kline

The main objective of this study is to derive economic strategies or decision rules for beef cow-calf farmers making production and marketing decisions under uncertain beef prices and pasture conditions. The problem analyzed relates to decisions concerning alternative beef systems for a 400-acre beef farm in the Shenandoah area of Virginia. At the beginning of the fall season, given the level of corn production and cow herd size, a beef farmer, faced with uncertain pasture conditions and uncertain feeder and slaughter prices for the coming year, must decide whether to sell his weaned calves or to keep them for sale later. At this time the farmer decides the amount of corn to be harvested as grain and as silage and the amount of corn to sell.


1998 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 525-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. FEDORKA-CRAY ◽  
D. A. DARGATZ ◽  
L. A. THOMAS ◽  
J. T. GRAY

A national study of health and management of cattle in feedlots was conducted. Within this study, the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in fecal samples was determined. Fifty fecal samples were collected from each of 100 feedlots. Within each feedlot, 25 fresh fecal samples were collected from the floor of the pens of cattle which had been on feed the shortest and 25 from those on feed the longest periods of time. The total number of samples collected was 4,977; 2,484 and 2,495 from pens of cattle on feed the shortest and longest times, respectively. Salmonella spp. were recovered from 38% (38 of 100) of the feedlots. Salmonella spp. were recovered from 5.5% (273 of 4,977) of all samples and from 3.5% (88 of 2,484) and 7.4% (185 of 2,495) of samples from pens of cattle shortest and longest on feed, respectively. The most common serotype recovered was S. anatum (27.9%), followed by S. montevideo (12.9%), S. muenster (11.8%), S. kentucky (8.2%), and S. newington (4.3%). The most common serogroups identified were El (39.6%), C1 (20.7%), and B (10.4%). Shedding of the serotypes most commonly associated with human illness occurred infrequently (13 of 273: 4.8%). This study provides information on the status of Salmonella spp. from cattle in feedlots and may serve as baseline information for future studies.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Lydia J. Farrell ◽  
Stephen T. Morris ◽  
Paul R. Kenyon ◽  
Peter R. Tozer

The liveweight of New Zealand beef cows has increased in recent decades due to selection for higher growth rates. Published data suggest that the efficiency of beef cow production decreases with increasing cow liveweight. Changes in beef herd size, feed demand, production, and cash operating surplus (COS) were simulated with average mature cow liveweight varied to 450, 500, 550, and 600 kg. With total annual beef feed demand fixed at the same level, in all scenarios cow numbers and numbers of weaned calves decreased with increasing cow liveweight. When the model was run with consistent efficiency of calf production across the mature cow liveweights (scenario A), heavier cows were more profitable. However, using published efficiency data (scenarios B and C), herds of heavier cows were less profitable. The likely most realistic scenario for New Zealand hill country farms (scenario B) had COS decrease from New Zealand Dollars (NZD) 456/ha with a herd of 450 kg cows to NZD 424/ha with 600 kg cows. Reductions in COS were relatively small, which may not deter farmers from breeding heavier cows for higher calf growth rates. However, the results of this analysis combined with indirect potential economic impacts suggest that the heaviest cows may not be optimal for New Zealand hill country conditions.


Livestock ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-43
Author(s):  
Christina Gale ◽  
Eduardo Velazquez

Salmonella spp. is an important topic for both human and animal health, particularly Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium including its monophasic strains. Salmonella is an increasing problem on pig farms and the bacteria are transmitted through breeding pyramids, and can spread rapidly due to the high number of subclinical cases. Therefore, diagnosis on farm is extremely important, ensuring sampling from all areas of the unit to gain the overall infection picture. Modern diagnostic techniques allow differentiation between field and vaccine strains which is extremely important when implementing a vaccination programme on the farm. Vaccination accompanied by hygiene and biosecurity measures make up the three pillars of Salmonella spp. control, each of which should be given equal attention. Vaccination has been shown to be very effective in reducing environmental pressure and therefore prevalence and clinical signs due to S. enterica ser. Typhimurium. Vaccination forms part of successful Salmonella spp. control, although it is important to remember that Salmonella spp. control requires a long-term approach using a combination of interventions and avoiding the long-term use of antimicrobial treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 191-192
Author(s):  
Mikayla F Moore ◽  
Shane Gadberry ◽  
David Lalman ◽  
Frank White ◽  
Sara Linneen ◽  
...  

Abstract Performance benefits of monensin have been extensively studied in finishing and stocker cattle, but considerably less published work is available evaluating response to monensin supplementation in cow-calf production systems. Feed additives are more difficult to study in cow-calf production systems due to unstable diet characteristics and cow physiological state throughout the production cycle. This meta-analysis investigated the impacts of monensin on performance of extensively raised beef cow-calf and developing replacement heifers. The replacement heifer analysis was conducted with a maximum of 48 treatment means in 18 experiments. The mature cow analysis included 21 publications and 26 mean comparisons. The metaphor package (version 2.4-0; Viechtbauer, 2010) for R (version 4.0.3; www.r-project.org) was used to determine the overall effect size of monensin compared to a negative control. Each study’s n, means, and SEM or P-value was used to calculate the mean difference and estimate of within study variance for responses of interest. For replacement heifers, average daily gain (+0.03 ± 0.008 kg/d), feed efficiency (+0.013 ± 0.008 gain:feed), and percentage cycling before the breeding season (+15.9 ± 5.13%) were increased (P &lt; 0.01), while dry matter intake (-4.3%) and age at puberty (-8.9 ± 1.48 d) were decreased (P &lt; 0.01). Six studies reporting ad libitum forage intake for mature cows showed that monensin decreased (P = 0.008) DMI by 0.85 ± 0.322 kg/day. Six studies showed monesin increased (P = 0.01) milk yield 0.39 ± 0.15 kg/day by mature cows in early lactation. There were no differences in artificial insemination pregnancy nor total pregnancy for either the heifer or mature cow data sets. This analysis also indicates potential for use of monensin in beef cow production systems, but further research is needed to elucidate the effects on DMI and milk production in beef cows.


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