Abundance & Fate of Fecal Indicators, Pathogens & Resistance in a Feedlot VTS
Channel: Livestock & Poultry Environ. Learning Community
Date: 2015-05-04

Full proceedings at: http://www.extension.org/72764 Vegetative treatment systems (VTS) provide an alternative treatment option for livestock feeding operations by collecting nutrient rich feedlot runoff, and using it to irrigate perennial cool-season grasses that are harvested for hay. One issue associated with land application of runoff is the potential human, animal, and environmental impacts of manure-borne microorganisms. Prior research indicates the VTS reduces nutrient transport, but its effectiveness for reducing transport of bacteria was unknown. We evaluated the ability of the VTS to impact transport of fecal indicators, pathogens, and antibiotic resistant bacteria during application of runoff, and survival of these organisms over time once applied to soil.