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Cow Manure Can Be a Source of E. Coli
Dairy Pipeline: September 2000
Gerald M. (Jerry) Jones
Extension Dairy Scientist, Milk Quality and Milking Management
Virginia Tech
(540) 231-4764
gmjones@vt.edu
This can cause mastitis but also has potential to cause water pollution and thereby create illness in humans. In a report published in the Journal of Dairy Science, EPA scientists collected drinking water from two dairy farms and inoculated them with E. coli isolates from dairy cattle and with a manure inoculum obtained from the farms. Bottles of inoculated water were incubated at 41 and 59ºF for 16 days. Although pathogenic organisms persisted throughout the 16 days in water from one farm, elevated counts were detected for at least 4 days from both farms and were consistently higher at the lower temperature. The results indicate that "cattle drinking water may play a role in the transmission of E. coli 0157:H7 in dairy cattle," and E. coli may survive in both drinking water and manure for up to several weeks. Since manure may contaminate drinking waterers, cleaning them on a regular schedule (every 1-2 weeks) is highly recommended. -- Gerald M. (Jerry) Jones Extension Dairy Scientist, Milk Quality & Milking Management 540/231-4764 email: gmjones@vt.edu