Objective: To evaluate the effects of using retention-pond water for dust abatement on performance of feedlot steers and carriage of Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella spp.
Design: Matched cohort studies.
Animals: 2 groups of feedlot steers comprising 3,510 (pathogen carriage) and 3,737 (performance) animals housed in a large commercial feedlot in the Texas Panhandle.
Procedure: Steers were systematically allocated to treatment pens approximately 60 days after arrival (pathogen carriage) or at arrival (performance). For evaluation of pathogen carriage, feces and hide swab specimens were collected from 25 animals in each pen within 10 days of slaughter. Samples were submitted for bacterial culture for E. coli O157 and were tested with a polymerase chain reaction-based assay for Salmonella spp. For evaluation of performance, pen weights of animals were obtained at arrival and slaughter and feed delivered to each pen was recorded. The exposure of interest for both studies was application of retention-pond water through fixed high-pressure sprinklers.
Results: Carriage of E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp and animal performance were not adversely affected by exposure to retention-pond water. Prevalences of E. coli O157 in feces, on hides, and either in feces or on hides for those exposed to retention-pond water were 8.3%, 8.9%, and 15.4%, respectively; prevalences for those unexposed to retention-pond water were 11.4%, 15.4%, and 22.6%, respectively.
Conclusions and clinical relevance: Results suggest that use of retention-pond water for dust abatement in feedlot pens does not adversely affect pathogen carriage or animal performance.