ABSTRACT
Feed products are potential sources for food safety risks (could be biological or chemical in nature) in beef cattle. Unlike many other food animal operations, beef cattle operations utilize an extensive source of raw materials that may not have assurances of safety and quality compared with that feed purchased from a commercial feed mill. Additionally, beef cattle are able to utilize a wide range of by-product or alternative feeds that are not utilized in other livestock production systems. Cattle are able to eat and digest this wide array of feed because of the ruminant digestive system. These ruminants rely on bacteria in the rumen to digest and ferment feed ingredients into products that can be absorbed or further digested in the intestinal tract. Beef producers can implement some basic steps to make sure the feed they provide to cattle does not pose a food safety risk for people. Fortunately, the digestive tract acts as a barrier to prevent many potential risks that may be consumed over the life of the animal from contaminating edible product.
