Cattle Vaccination Could Avert 83% of Human E. Coli Cases, Study

Sep 23, 2013

Cattle Vaccination Could Avert 83% of Human E. Coli Cases, Study

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that using an E. coli vaccine on cattle could prevent about 83 percent of human infections.

The findings suggest that vaccination reduces the level of E. coli in bovine manure. There are currently two E. coli vaccinations available; a Canadian version – Econiche and the American version – Epitopix SRP. To date, less than five-percent of the Canadian market is using the vaccine.

Researchers found that smaller cattle operations that raise, slaughter and sell their own cattle on farm are more likely to use the vaccine. These producers use the vaccine as a form of liability insurance. Advocates of the vaccine being used more broadly argue that vaccination is not only an agriculture issue, but a health one.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.