Research Project: Mitigation of Salmonella in Beef-Holistic Tactics to Advance the Microbiological Safety and Quality of the Red Meat Continuum

Location: Meat Safety and Quality

Project Number: 3040-42000-021-009-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jul 7, 2026
End Date: Sep 30, 2026

Objective:
Identify pre-harvest factors contributing to beef feedlot Salmonella persistence.

Approach:
Conduct a longitudinal study that follows cohorts of cattle from feedlot to harvest. Characterize the feedlot environmental factors that contribute to Salmonella persistence with monthly pen surface sampling and Salmonella characterization: weather and feedlot management factors and pen surface soil characteristics. Select feedlots high in Salmonella risk and feedlots low in Salmonella risk and follow pens of cattle from each to harvest and collect subiliac lymph nodes for Salmonella testing.