The Rural Voice, 2002-09, Page 66The leading edge
Russian technology may help control E. coli
A simple electrolyte water
treatment technology first developed
in Russia may enhance food safety by
improving the control of E. coli
0157:H7 in North American cattle
feedlots, say researchers at
Agriculture and Agri -Food Canada's
Lethbridge Research Centre.
"Preliminary research in the lab
suggests we can totally clear E. coli
0157:H7 from a water trough using
this technology," says Sam Stevenson,
a Ph.D. student studying the
technology under the Centre's Dr.
Tim McAllister. "Further research is
planned to see how it works under
normal feedlot conditions, but we are
very optimistic about the positive
results."
E. coli 0157:H7 is a major concern
to the beef industry with about 25 per
cent of beef and dairy cattle shedding
the bacteria at some point during their
lives. While not a threat to livestock,
the potential as a water and food-
borne disease has prompted a broad
research effort to reduce the risk to
humans. The major food contaminant
risk is transfer of the pathogen from
the animal's intestine to the carcass
during the slaughtering process. But
scientists increasingly view farm
management strategies, such as
keeping feed bunks and water troughs
clean, as a crucial component of
reducing E. coli 0157:H7 in the
environment and further up the food
system.
Russian researchers have been
investigating the electrolyzed
oxidizing (EO) water treatment for
more than two decades to control a
variety of pathogens. The latest
improved technology — developed by
the Canadian/Swiss company Biostel
North America — has only recently
been brought to Canada for evaluation
using North American standards.
Studies planned over the next several
years may lead to introduction into
commercial livestock facilities both
on this continent and in Europe.
"The big advantage is it's
potentially very easy and economical
to use — only a small concentration
of treated water is enough to kill the
bacteria in cattle drinking troughs,"
said Stevenson.
The Biostel water treatment
technology uses water containing a
0.1 per cent electrolyte solution,
which is put through a process that
changes the solution's pH levels.
Stevenson says it's unclear how the
process works.
— Source: Agri Digest
Let the worms handle manure problems
What's the solution to growing concerns over liquid manure production from
farms? An Ontario company wants to turn the job over to worms.
R. A. Monteith, president of Environalysis Inc., is promoting a new
technology that will separate manure solids from liquid, then turn the solids in a
worm digester.
Monteith foresees installing separators on farms using liquid manure. The
separators can handle 100 to 250 gallons per minute, enough to handle seven
days of manure production in five days a week. The solids would be stored in a
Targe portable storage bin from which they will be picked up periodically and
taken to the company's worm digester operation. The farmer will be charged a
small amount depending on the weight of solid produced each month, Monteith
says.
The remaining liquid would be stored in a second pit, remaining there until it
is put through a reactor which will use enzymes to kill all the pathogens and eat
the particulate still in the water. The process, which takes a few days, would
create water clean enough to be used as wash water in the barn, Monteith claims.
This process will conserve well water for drinking only.
Monteith sees savings for farmers from the normal cost of having the manure
spread by themselves or a custom operator, allowing them to pay for the
equipment very quickly. The regular pumping out of the barn will also include
air quality for both pigs and workers, he says.0
— Source: company press release
62 THE RURAL VOICE
Blood test detects
warbles in livestock
Agriculture Canada's research
centre in Lethbridge, Alberta is
developing a new test for
detecting warbles in livestock.
The newly -developed blood
test traces a protein excreted by
warbles as they migrate through
an animal.
Research is still at the
laboratory stage, but it is hoped a
blood test can be commercially
available the next few years, said
Doug Colwell, a parasitologist
with Agriculture Canada.
Work in on-going with a
American company to develop a
reasonably -priced, easy-to-use test
at chute side.
Testing livestock for warble
grubs isn't common because most
producers and feedlots use a broad
spectrum internal parasite
treatment. Organic beef operations
may find it a valuable tool,
however, because it reduces the
amount of treatment required and
prevents resistance.
It is known that range cattle
can become seriously infected,
causing a drop in performance and
suppressed immune systems for
calves.
"They reduce the ability of the
calf to respond to other diseases,"
Colwell said. "That has not been
translated into a dollar value."
Cattle infested with warble
grubs can lose nearly a pound of
weight per day.
Adult female flies do no sting.
Instead they lay between 400 and
800 eggs on the legs and under-
sides of cattle starting in May.
Eggs hatch within two to seven
days and crawl to the base of the
hair and burrow through the skin
into the animal's body. They head
toward the esophagus and spinal
cord and eventually through
connective tissues. They excrete
enzymes as they move through the
body that break down tissue,
making it more digestible for the
maggots.0
— Source: Western Producer
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