The July 7 Organic Matters column, “Is the small, mixed farm a model for safer food production,” falsely suggested that the recent, tragic European E. coli O104: H4 outbreak was associated with modern cattle production practices. E. coli O104: H4 has never been found in cattle, anywhere in the world. It is missing a key DNA feature characteristic of all cattle-adapted strains, and contains DNA features characteristic of human-adapted strains.
Attempts to reduce E. coli shedding by switching cattle from grain to forage feeding has produced conflicting results.
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Worrisome drop in grain prices
Prices had been softening for most of the previous month, but heading into the Labour Day long weekend, the price drops were startling.
Some studies have found that E. coli shedding is reduced, others have seen an increase, and some have found no difference. Regardless, feeding forages alone will not eliminate the risk of E. coli O157: H7 or any other pathogen.
Consequently, it is critical that all steps in the beef production chain continue to maintain a high level of meat hygiene and sanitation practices in order to provide consumers with safe, healthy, high quality beef.
The column further suggested that a grass-finishing production system may lead to a variety of animal health, welfare and environmental improvements.
It’s important to remember that Western Canada’s cattle feeding industry was pioneered by small, mixed farmers as a means of avoiding the widespread starvation losses experienced in the harsh winters of 1886-87 and 1906-07.
Since then, the beef industry has successfully developed and adopted many additional strategies to further improve animal health and welfare, feed efficiency, growth performance, and reduce days to maturity while also reducing per animal feed inputs, manure production and greenhouse gas emissions.
Reynold Bergen, PhD,Science Director,
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association,
Calgary, Alta.
