Vaccination to Reduce the Prevalence of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 in Feedlot Cattle Fed Wet Distillers Grains Plus Solubles

A clinical trial in summer of 2008 evaluated effects of feeding 0 (CONTROL) or 40% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS) with and without vaccination against E. coli O157:H7 on the probability of shedding E. coli O157:H7 in the feces. No interaction (P = 0.97) was observed between vaccination and diet for E. coli O157:H7 shedding. Steers fed WDGS were 2.1 times more likely (P < 0.01) to shed E. coli O157:H7 than cattle fed CONTROL. Vaccination resulted in cattle that were 43% less likely (P < 0.01) to test positive for E. coli O157:H7 than the unvaccinated cattle.