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Dried Distillers Grain May Impact E. coli

Kansas State University released results from a research project looking at the prevalence of E. coli found in the manure of cattle fed dried distillers grains, a byproduct of ethanol production. The study found that cattle fed DDG had a higher prevalence of E. coli.

Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who have been researching ways to reduce E. coli are suprised by the KSU results. Similar testing they have performed found no increase in E. coli from feeding dried distillers grains. UNL animal science professor Terry Klopfenstein says while they respect KSU's research, it is puzzling.

KSU's findings shouldn't affect cattle feeder's use of dried distiller's grains according to T.G. Nagaraja, a professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at Kansas State's College of Veterinary Medicine. E. coli is present in all cattle, and he says research should focus on finding the reasons for the increase in E. coli with dried distiller's grain and work to find a way to change it.