Managing Global Resources for a Secure Future

2017 Annual Meeting | Oct. 22-25 | Tampa, FL

108370 Effect of Winter Cover Crop Grazing on Animal Performance and Antibiotic Resistance during Pre-Weaning Period in Beef Cattle.

Poster Number 1327

See more from this Division: ASA Section: Environmental Quality
See more from this Session: Nutrient Dynamics and Management in Dairy and Beef Cattle Production Systems Poster (includes student competition)

Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Tampa Convention Center, East Exhibit Hall

Getahun E Agga1, Hunter O Galloway2, Terry M Arthur3, John W Schmidt3 and Annesly Netthisinghe2, (1)Food Animal Environmental Systems Research, USDA-ARS, Bowling Green, KY
(2)Department of Agriculture, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY
(3)Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, USDA-ARS, Clay Center, NE
Poster Presentation
  • Agga - Tri-Society meeting Tampa 2017 poster_FINAL.pdf (392.7 kB)
  • Abstract:
    We investigated the effect of winter wheat grazing on body weight gain and the level of antibiotic resistant bacteria in beef cattle. Calves and cows (16 each) were equally randomized into tall fescue or wheat pastures. Body weights and fecal samples were taken on d 0, d 7, d 14 and d 21. Samples were cultured for tetracycline (TETr) - and 3rd generation cephalosporin (3GCr) -resistant Escherichia coli. After a 4-week grazing period the average daily gain of the calves was significantly (P=0.0014) higher in the wheat group (2.7 kg) compared to the tall fescue group (1.98 kg); no significant (P=0.1945) difference was observed in the cows. TETr E. coli concentration did not significantly (P>0.05) differ between treatments both in the calves and the cows. In the calves TETr E. coli concentration increased by more than 5 log10 CFU/g of feces for days 14 and 21 compared to baseline level. In the cows it increased by 2 and 1 log10 CFU/g on d 14 and d 21 respectively. There was significant (P<0.001) sampling day by age (calves versus cows) interaction effect on TETr E. coli concentration: TETr E. coli concentration was higher in the cows on d 0, but was higher in the calves on days 14 and 21. Treatment or sampling day had no effect on the prevalence of 3GCr E. coli both in the calves and the cows (P>0.05). Higher (P=0.062) prevalence of 3GCr E. coli was observed in the cows (34.4%) than in the calves (12.9%). In conclusion wheat pasture grazing increases animal performance with no significant impact on the level of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The observed age dependent increase in the level of TETr bacteria in the calves, and the role of cows for the maintenance and transmission of 3GCr bacteria need further investigation.

    See more from this Division: ASA Section: Environmental Quality
    See more from this Session: Nutrient Dynamics and Management in Dairy and Beef Cattle Production Systems Poster (includes student competition)

    Previous Abstract | Next Abstract >>