CALF_News_April_May_2018

17 CALF News • April | May 2018 • www.calfnews.net Even the Smallest Components Can Have a Big Impact According to research trials, the strain Lactobacillus acidolphilus BT-1386 found in Micro-Cell probiotics has been shown to: • Decrease shedding of E. coli O157:H7 1 • Reduce re-infection of Salmonella 2 • Increase average daily gain 3 • Improve feed to gain 4 Probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus BT-1386, available exclusively fromLallemand Animal Nutrition, was added to the 2015 pre-harvest production best practice (PBP) document released by the Beef Industry Food Safety Council (BIFSCo). It is commercially availableforpurchaseunderthebrandnames Micro-Cell FS and Micro-Cell FS Gold . Every ration component plays an important role on overall performance and ensuring you provide the best beef product to the consumer. Consistent performance lies in the details. Micro-Cell® probiotics are high quality feed additives that feature proven bacterial strains that help your cattle maintain an ideal intestinal balance. Micro-Cell probiotics are a small yet critical component and another tool to help you produce a top quality product that consumers want. 1ProductionBestPractices (PBP) toAid in theControlofFoodbornePathogens inGroupsofCattle.Beef IndustryFoodSafetyCouncil Subcommittee on Pre-Harvest. Spring 2015. Accessed March 19, 2015. 2 Tabe ES, Oloya J, Doetkott DK, Bauer ML, Gibbs PS, Khaitsa ML. Comparative effect of direct-fed microbials on fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in naturally infected feedlot cattle. J. Food Prot. May 2008; 3(71): 539-544. 3 Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Unpublished. United States. 1996. 4 Hutcheson D and Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Unpublished. United States. 1986. LALLEMAND ANIMAL NUTRITION Tel: 414 464 6440 Email: LAN_NA@lallemand.com www.lallemandanimalnutrition.com ©2016. Micro-Cell is a registered trademark of Lallemand Animal Nutrition. Not all products are available in all markets nor are all claims allowed in all regions. Constant vigilance is always needed, as most mammals are susceptible. More about transmission Cattle shed M. bovis in respiratory secretions, manure, milk, urine and reproductive tract fluids. Additional risk is added with human consumption of raw or undercooked meat (think African bush kill), or exposure to those with suppressed immune systems. The hardy bacterium can survive for weeks or months in the right environ- ment. The waxy spores favor cold, dark, moist conditions. Pastures can harbor the malady within its grasses, and feed bunks within its ground hay. Cattle may take months to incubate TB, making the cattle feeding indus- try virtually immune to any problems. Fed cattle are harvested at a young age, before the bacterium gets a foothold. Like BSE, TB is likely to be found in older animals. Once active, it is most likely to inhabit the respiratory tract. The good news is, healthy animals with vigorous immune systems are most able to fight off TB bacterium with no additional help. For the unfortunate few producers who are found at risk of harboring an infected herd, cattle are tested by the respective state veterinarians. Quar- antined herds will include fenceline contact neighbors. Usually, an injected tuberculin skin test is taken from under the cow’s tail in the caudal fold. A positive result is indicated by swelling, a reaction to the injection site, at about 72 hours post-injection. Positive-testing herds are offered a buy-out from the government, and cattle are sent to har- vest. Those owners opting out of buy- outs remain quarantined and continue to undergo regular testing until they are clean, a process that takes years, if it happens at all. In the U.S., very few cases become symptomatic. They are usually caught by routine testing, or more likely, by packing plant inspection. Tracing the path of this and other diseases is one reason why some in the industry are encouraging mandatory use of electronic ear tags. Forget the Clorox M. bovis is quite resistant to disinfec- tants. Harsh chemicals such as formal- dehyde need a long contact time to kill the waxy bacterium. It will succumb to moist heat (250 degrees) if exposed for a minimum of 15 minutes. No effective vaccines are currently available. The take-home message for us beef producers is don’t take this disease for granted and limit the mixing of purchased cattle, especially breeding stock. If you’re quarantined, you won’t be able to sell any livestock until you’re cleaned up.Will it break your operation? Your neighbors will be unhappy with you because they’ll be caught in the same fix. TB is out there, and if you are caught in the TB trap, the repercussions are enormous.  OPPOSITE: Beef cattle are far less likely to contract tuberculosis than dairy cattle, due to lives spent in sunshine, fresh air and ample space. However, they still risk exposure from wildlife.