January 5, 2010

Cargill testing E. coli vaccine on feedlot cattle

Cattle in feedlots that will be processed at Cargill's Fort Morgan, Colorado plant are being administered with an E. coli vaccine.

Company spokesman Mark Klein said they are working with about a dozen feedlots near Cargill's Colorado beef plant, with about 100,000 cattle to receive the vaccine. The cattle will go to the plant during the May-September period.

Last month the USDA announced two forms of a vaccine that might reduce the spread of E. coli in cattle intestines. 

Former Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Richard Raymond, recently urged for government financial support to help cattle producers implement vaccine programmes.