U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Food Animal Environmental Systems Research: Bowling Green, KY
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                                    Software
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Models & Software
                        Sorption Isotherm Spreadsheets
                                    Annual Phosphorus Loss Estimator (APLE) Model
                                    Modified Arcsine Log Calibration Curve (ALCC)Search small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Midwest Area Bowling Green, Kentucky Food Animal Environmental Systems Research Research Publications at this Location





- ARS National Programs
- Search for a scientific manuscript
- Search for a research project
- ARS Software
- Programs and Projects
- Collaborations
- Subjects of Investigation
- Publications

Title:   Author  item
                                            Cook, Kimberly

                                                         - *Kim*item
                                            Bolster, Carlitem
                                            Sistani, Karamat
  Submitted to: Waste to Worth Conference
                                    Publication Type: Proceedings
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2015
                                    Publication  Date: 3/3/2015
                                    Citation: Cook, K.L., Bolster, C.H., Sistani, K.R. 2015. Composting swine slurry to reduce indicators and antibiotic resistance genes. Waste to Worth Conference. March 30-Aril 3, 2015. Seattle, Washington.Interpretive Summary: Over the last twenty years there have been considerable increases in the incidence of human infections with bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. This has precipitated concerns about the use of antibiotics in livestock production. Composting of swine manure has several advantages, liquid slurries are converted to solid, the total volume of material is reduced and the stabilized product is more easily transported off-site. The goal of this study was to determine if composting can also be used to reduce the concentration of indicators and bacteria containing genes for antibiotic resistance (AR) in swine manure. Compost trials were conducted in either fall (FT) or spring (ST) and piles were turned once, three times or upon reaching 65 oC. Microbial indicators and populations with AR genes for tetracycline, erythromycin and sulfonamide resistance were quantified by culture and/or quantitative, real-time (qPCR) analysis. In the FT, concentrations of enterococci decreased below culturable detection within 21 days, corresponding with a 99% decrease in detection by qPCR. Similar decreases in qPCR detection in the ST took longer (day 49 or day 77 of composting). Changes in the concentration of bacteria with AR genes varied by antibiotic type (erythromycin (36% - 97%), tetracycline (94% to 99%) and sulfonamide (53% to 84%)) and compost season (greater decreases in ST). There were few differences based on turning regime. These results suggest that composting effectively decreases the concentration of indicators and AR genes in swine manure.
                                Technical Abstract: Over the last twenty years there have been considerable increases in the incidence of human infections with bacteria that are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. This has precipitated concerns about the use of antibiotics in livestock production. Composting of swine manure has several advantages, liquid slurries are converted to solid, the total volume of material is reduced and the stabilized product is more easily transported off-site. The goal of this study was to determine if composting can also be used to reduce the concentration of indicators and bacteria containing genes for antibiotic resistance (AR) in swine manure. Compost trials were conducted in either fall (FT) or spring (ST) and piles were turned once, three times or upon reaching 65 oC. Microbial indicators and populations with AR genes for tetracycline, erythromycin and sulfonamide resistance were quantified by culture and/or quantitative, real-time (qPCR) analysis. In the FT, concentrations of enterococci decreased below culturable detection within 21 days, corresponding with a 99% decrease in detection by qPCR. Similar decreases in qPCR detection in the ST took longer (day 49 or day 77 of composting). Changes in the concentration of bacteria with AR genes varied by antibiotic type (erythromycin (36% - 97%), tetracycline (94% to 99%) and sulfonamide (53% to 84%)) and compost season (greater decreases in ST). There were few differences based on turning regime. These results suggest that composting effectively decreases the concentration of indicators and AR genes in swine manure.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov