Direct-Fed Microbials

Microbial foodborne illnesses are important health burdens to the public health system. Until the implementation of thorough intervention strategy (ies), the beef industry today will continue to experience challenges of microbial contamination from cattle hides and feces. According to Blezinger of Cattle Today' online magazine, the meat packing industries are looking to the feed yards and the cattle producers to implement strategies to help achieve this goal. Feeding direct-fed microbials (DFM) and or probiotics among other supplements have recently been implemented as a proactive intervention strategy in reducing the fecal shedding of these pathogens by cattle. Documented in this book is a clinical trial study using DFM as a preharvest intervention strategy to reduce the load of enteric pathogens such as E.coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in the beef production chain. The DFM used in this study is Lactobacillus acidophilus (BT-1386).This report and many other DFM documented studies proves the future potential of DFM as a natural weapon to combat and significantly curb the spread of medically and economic important bacteria in our food supply chain.