Page 54 - The Welfare of Cattle

ChaPter 5

Microbial Pathogens in extensive and
Intensive animal agriculture Systems

Pramod Pandey and E. R. Atwill
University of California

CONteNtS

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 31
Manure Production and Microbial Numbers ................................................................................... 31
Pathogen Prevalence ........................................................................................................................33
Pathogen Transport ..........................................................................................................................33
Importance of Confined Animal Feeding Operations in Food Supply and Manure Management .....34
Necessity of Intensive Animal Production Systems ........................................................................34
Summary ..........................................................................................................................................34
References ........................................................................................................................................36

INtrODUCtION

We live in a world filled with microorganisms. Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi are
commonly found throughout our world and most play important roles in the Earth’s ecosystems,
including making many critical contributions to the health of soils, plants, animals, and humans.
Huge numbers of microorganisms live on both the outside (skin/hair/scales) and inside (primarily
in the gastrointestinal tract) of animals and humans. Today, we have a much better understanding
of the importance of these microorganisms, collectively referred to as the microbiome, in support-
ing animal and human health. Some of these microorganisms, referred to as pathogens, also cause
illness in plant and animal species. Animal manure and human sewage both contain high numbers
of microbes, some of which may be pathogenic when they gain entry into susceptible animals and
humans.

MaNUre PrODUCtION aND MICrOBIaL NUMBerS

Over the last 60 years, changes in economic realities and advancing science have moved
animal agriculture toward more intensive production systems—those that concentrate animals in
small areas where humans provide the animal’s feed (CAFO’s—Concentrated Animal Feeding
Operations) and away from extensive systems that require animals to forage on their own to meet
their nutritional needs on larger areas of land.

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