Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Neb., are studying whether feeding cattle distillers grains, a byproduct of ethanol production, increases E. coli levels.

The 300 cattle in the study are on a diet of 40 percent distillers grains, the Des Moines Register reported. They are being tested for E. coli monthly until they reach their full weight this spring, and their E. coli levels will be compared with cattle on an all-corn diet.

Research from Kansas State University has already linked distillers grains with E. coli, demonstrating a twofold increase in E. coli levels in cattle fed the product compared with animals that ate corn exclusively. Researchers at the University of Nebraska found that cattle fed 40 percent to 50 percent distillers grains showed increased rates of E. coli, although cattle fed a diet of 10 percent to 30 percent of the product actually had lower E. coli levels than those on an all-corn diet.

Results of the USDA study are expected later this year. USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety Richard Raymond told the Register last week that regardless of the results, the government is not planning to restrict the use of distillers grains, but would instead leave decisions to the industry.

By Ann Bagel Storck on 1/29/2008 for Meatingplace.com