Agricultural News
The Battle Rages in Institutions Across the Country Keeping E. Coli at Bay Away from the Beef Chain
Tue, 24 Jan 2017 11:35:26 CST
The battle against E. coli continues by researchers across the country. Kansas State University's Dr. Randy Phoebus, is one of those working hard to try to reduce E. coli incidents within the beef cattle industry. He spoke with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays about the last six years of research that has been conducted by 17 different institutions working in concert to combat this damaging pathogen.
"It actually center on beef production - feedlots, calves, veal," Phoebus said. "Everything that you can think about related to the beef system."
Before researchers began to study and try to understand the organism back in the mid-1990s when it was first declared an adulterant in ground beef by the USDA, not much was known about E. coli. Six years later though after this project was undertaken, funded by the USDA, Phoebus reports that by and large, most strains of the organism share relatively similar profiles.
"That was very important to know," Phoebus said, "because all of the technologies and protocols that we've put in place over the years should control these other Escherichia the same way," which he notes has been extremely successful.
While no major incidents have occurred in beef yet, Phoebus sighs in relief, he insists that the industry must always be on guard should an outbreak ever show up.
Listen to Hays speak with Dr. Phoebus more in depth about the research being done to stave off E. coli in the beef chain, on today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network and is a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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