Orange Peels In Cattle Feed May Help Fight Foodborne Illness

Watch out, foodborne illness. You have a new enemy you probably never saw coming: orange peels. A new study from the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) suggests that feeding the citrus skins to cattle can drastically reduce the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria (such as E. coli and salmonella) in cows' gastro-intestinal tracts. Ultimately, cutting down on internal bacteria in living cows could translate into lower rates of dangerous pathogens in meat -- and also help reduce the livestock industry's dependence on potentially dangerous antibiotics.

The ARS study, lead by microbiologist Ted Callaway, brings together two long-running strains of research. The older one, stretching back as far as 1924, has demonstrated the anti-microbial properties of citrus oils time and time again.

The younger and smaller one has tried to find ways to use citrus wastes as animal feed. The Florida orange industry alone produces five million tons of orange peels and pulp, from products like orange juice and canned oranges, so the demand for a use for waste -- other than the garbage dump -- is high. Studies have shown that citrus peels contain a chemical, d-limonene, that is toxic to pigs and poultry. But cows, with their four stomachs, can digest orange peels without a hitch.

The ARS study demonstrated the potential antimicrobial efficacy of orange peels in cattle feed by feeding pelletized orange peel to sheep, which are ruminants like cows. (Pellets are considered more viable than raw skins because the latter are hard to ship.) The researchers then tested the digestive tract of the sheep for the presence of pathogens. They found that the orange peel pellets led to a "10-fold reduction in Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in the animals' intestinal contents," according to Food Safety News.

Callaway has said that his team's next move will involve field-testing the new feed in cattle around the country.

Comments

[walths]

01:01 PM on 09/02/2012

E. coli from 100% grassfed cows is not a problem for humans. Only the 'super' E. coli from grainfed animals is a problem. Grassfed at the same time gives you as much Omega 3, serving per serving, as any cold water fish.

[allanlan00]

08:22 PM on 02/02/2012

Parents who dont pay attention to these possible dangers and dont do their own digging are reckless and irresponsible!Juice Recipes

[Mamadea]

05:08 AM on 12/08/2011

Don't expect them to use this natural resource. They'd rather conjure up some concoction in a lab with side effects on both human and cattle.

[tadpole112202]

12:54 PM on 12/07/2011

That's interesting. I raise a few head of cattle for personal consumption and I didn't think they would like citrus peels. They do love hops, fresh lawn clippings(cow candy) and will destroy a garbage bag full of cannabis fan leaves when given the opportunity.

[kareemachan]

12:24 PM on 12/07/2011

Gee, feed them real food and they do better. Who'd have thunk it?

But I like the idea of doing something useful with the orange peels instead of putting it in the garbage.

[MuckyPup]

01:26 PM on 12/06/2011

I didn't think I'd be the only one who found this silly....

[ewb2001]

12:34 PM on 12/06/2011

How about feeding a natural product to cows???? Feeding them hay gets rid of the e-coli!!!! It is the overfeeding of cows of grains, especially corn that has caused this epidemic of e-coli, not to mention goig back to Pre-Jungle days of meat processing. McDonalds can keep "Full-Time" inspectors in the facilities that process meat products for them. The general public gets meat processed in facilities that have "Scheduled" inspections every six months! How the carcases are carved up can eliminate over 90% of intestinal e-coli contamination.

[baxtron]

12:08 PM on 12/06/2011

field grass instead of corn. 1 year instead of 6 months to fatten them up. several ways to fight disease.

[Halsey]

11:33 AM on 12/06/2011

Like Andrew (below) I think nature knew what she was doing in having cows eat grass (as opposed to GMO corn and feed that contains even small parts of dead cows; cows are NOT cannibals nor even carnivores). I will very soon return to vegetarianism...my lame excuse is much needed weight gain and protein after cancer,chemo and complications. But my spirit feels so guilty...okay..so far off topic, mea culpa. I'm not here to convert. I guess the one good thing is use of viable "waste". Yes, better to use the peels than have hundreds of tons rotting. Now, my bigger question is...are there chemical used to make the peels into these pellets? I'd think freeze=drying would suffice (I give my cat..yes a carnivore..no choice) treats of freeze-dried organic chicken(he he..it looks like crack pellets..really..and no, I've not done crack but I've seen a rock or two). So, if anyone knows if they use salt or benzo anything WITH the peels in the pellets..this is important imformation. Thanks?

[Steveh0607]

08:33 AM on 12/06/2011

Orange peels?

How about feeding cows grass. On second thought maybe that's too radical an idea.

[KennytheRTiger]

08:49 PM on 12/05/2011

Sweet orange milk!

[Andrew Gunther]

06:06 PM on 12/05/2011

Anyone interested in the history of cattle and feeding might read this? http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/2011/12/02/grassfed-meat-making-the-right-choices/

[FrictionSoul]

04:44 PM on 12/05/2011

E coli comes from GMO corn. Stop feeding animals GMOs, stop housing them in filthy cramped conditions, and they'll stop shedding pathogens. Simple, but the USDA . . . being corrupted by corporate interests, simply won't go down that path.

[Tabre]

07:20 PM on 12/05/2011

Please enlighten me to the scientific data that states E. coli comes from GMO corn.

Cattle need to be feed additional feed and/or supplements to sustain them depending on the region, time of year, and quantity and quality of grass available. As long as cattle crap and pee in the fields, there is a chance of contamination. Rain or water will allow manure to spread and it becomes fertilizer for the grass to grow. E. coli does come from manure. Important for people to wash their hands with soap and water after using the toilet.

Dairy cattle have been fed orange citrus pulp for more than a decade. Cows love the flavor in their nutritionally balanced diet. They will eat more of the feed when citrus pulp is added. They have also eaten other fruit.

[FarmLuv]

12:13 PM on 12/06/2011

Really? Or maybe it is naturally present in the gastrointestinal tract of ALL mammals? Oh yeah, that's right...It Is!

[Andrew Gunther]

02:05 PM on 12/05/2011

How about we just let them eats grass like they are designed to do? Then they wouldn't get acid resistant EColi just a thought you know treat the cause not the symptom?

[blurredmolly]

03:00 PM on 12/05/2011

that makes too much sense.

[Dede Eagleburger]

02:02 PM on 12/05/2011

so does that mean it helps if we eat them too?