A New Approach for Tackling Food-Borne Disease

USDA is funding research that seeks to understand better the role cattle genetics may play in food contamination by the pathogen, E. coli O157:H7.

With partners including Neogen Corporation and its subsidiary, GeneSeek, researchers have shown that while some cows have no E. coli O157:H7 in their systems, others present a greater risk for beef contamination by shedding higher concentrations of the pathogen in their faeces.

James Herbert, Neogen's chairman and CEO, explained: "Researchers believe that if genetic markers for 'supershedders' of E. coli O157:H7, or animals that do not carry the microorganism, can be established, genetic and breeding programmes can be developed to help minimise the risk that the pathogen presents to consumers of beef products.

The research is being conducted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln scientists, in partnership with USDA's Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, and Lincoln-based GeneSeek. GeneSeek will perform genotyping on the cattle genetic samples.

"While epidemiologically oriented approaches have provided extensive information about the transmission patterns of the organism, they have essentially failed to come up with meaningful and effective pre-harvest interventions that work in beef production," said University of Nebraska food microbiologist, Andy Benson, who is heading the research team.

"On the other hand, breeding strategies, which have heretofore never been considered as an approach, could be implemented as an intervention with potentially huge pay-offs, ultimately reducing numbers of 'supershedders' that are released into feeding operations."

"Many producers are already using sophisticated approaches to manage their breeding programmes," Mr Benson continued. "For them, it would be yet another gene and another trait on their list of things they want to breed for or breed against."

In Denmark, pork producers have noted improved results in 2010, according to a new report issued by the Danish Agriculture & Food Council. However, the future still holds significant challenges for the sector, the report warns.

Turning to trade, Russian beef imports for 2010-11 were five per cent higher than the previous year, assisted by a surge in imports from Europe, which were up 324 per cent year-on-year.