Does Ethanol Byproduct Taint Beef Cattle?
February 24, 2008 As ethanol production increases, some researchers are questioning the effect the alternative fuels byproduct grains have on cattle and the safety and quality of beef. Distillers grain, the leftovers from producing corn ethanol, has been linked to a 50 percent increase in E. coli when fed to cattle, according to a recent Kansas State University study that looked at dried distillers grains. E. coli is a foodborne fecal contaminant that can cause food poisoning or worse if consumed by humans who eat undercooked meat, raw dairy products or produce contami-nated with cow manure. With approximately 10 million tons of distillers grains produced nationally in 2006 and 16 million tons expected by 2010, according to an Ohio State University study, the ethanol byproduct is being marketed to feedlots and dairy farms across the United States as a source of revenue for ethanol plants. It has just blown up so quickly, said Shawn Archibeque, an assistant professor of animal science a
