Source:  Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 8/26/09

A recent report by Kansas State University researchers found that natural, organic and conventional cattle production systems are similar in terms of prevalence rates of E. coli O157:H7 and antibiotic susceptibility, one of its authors told Meatingplace.

The report, published this month in the journal Applied & Environmental Microbiology, indicates that prevalences of E. coli O157:H7 in the feces of organically and naturally raised beef cattle (14.8 percent and 14.2 percent, respectively) are similar to those reported previously for conventionally raised feedlot cattle.

Additionally, the researchers analyzed minimum inhibitory concentration of a variety of antibiotics for E. coli O157:H7 isolates to determine the effects of all three production systems and found no significant difference in antibiotic susceptibility.

"As little is known about the effects of these production systems on foodborne pathogens, the authors conclude that further investigation into these production systems and their potential for altering the risk of human illness is warranted," the report said.

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