Management practices associated with the rate of respiratory tract disease among preweaned beef calves in cow-calf operations in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To assess associations between herd management practices and herd-level rates of bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) in preweaned beef calves in US cow-calf operations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE: 443 herds weighted to represent the US cow-calf population. PROCEDURES: Producers from 24 states were selected to participate in a 2-phase survey; 443 producers completed both survey phases and had calves born alive during the study period. Data from those respondents underwent multivariable negative binomial regression analyses. RESULTS: Bred heifer importation was associated with lower BRDC rates (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.40; confidence interval [CI], 0.19 to 0.82), whereas weaned steer importation was associated with higher BRDC rates (IRR, 2.62; CI, 1.15 to 5.97). Compared with single-breed herds, operations with calves of 2-breed crosses (IRR, 2.36; CI, 1.30 to 4.29) or 3-breed crosses (IRR, 4.00; CI, 1.93 to 8.31) or composite-herd calves (IRR, 2.27; CI, 1.00 to 5.16) had higher BRDC rates. Operations classified as supplemental sources of income had lower BRDC rates (IRR, 0.48; CI, 0.26 to 0.87) than did operations classified as primary sources of income. Reported feed supplementation with antimicrobials was positively associated with BRDC rates (IRR, 3.46; CI, 1.39 to 8.60). The reported number of visits by outsiders in an average month also was significantly associated with herd-level BRDC rates, but the magnitude and direction of the effects varied. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Management practices associated with preweaning BRDC rates may be potential indicators or predictors of preweaning BRDC rates in cow-calf production systems.

Epidemiological simulation modeling and spatial analysis for foot-and-mouth disease control strategies: a comprehensive review.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is one of the most serious transboundary, contagious viral diseases of cloven-hoofed livestock, because it can spread rapidly with high morbidity rates when introduced into disease-free herds or areas. Epidemiological simulation modeling can be developed to study the hypothetical spread of FMD and to evaluate potential disease control strategies that can be implemented to decrease the impact of an outbreak or to eradicate the virus from an area. Spatial analysis, a study of the distributions of events in space, can be applied to an area to investigate the spread of animal disease. Hypothetical FMD outbreaks can be spatially analyzed to evaluate the effect of the event under different control strategies. The main objective of this paper is to review FMD-related articles on FMD epidemiology, epidemiological simulation modeling and spatial analysis with the focus on disease control. This review will contribute to the development of models used to simulate FMD outbreaks under various control strategies, and to the application of spatial analysis to assess the outcome of FMD spread and its control.

Analysis of risk factors associated with Salmonella spp. isolated from U.S. feedlot cattle.

Contamination can occur at a number of stages during farm-to-fork processing. Preharvest intervention is an ongoing area of interest in reduction of risk of foodborne illness. This study examined risk factors associated with detection of Salmonella from cattle in U.S. feedlots. During two visits to 73 feedlots, 25 fresh fecal samples were collected from each of three pen floors. Associations between management and demographic factors and culture status were evaluated using logistic regression. Factors positively associated with culture-positive status included brewers' grains (odds ratio [OR] = 26.35; confidence interval [CI], 10.33-67.20), corn gluten (OR = 10.35; CI, 5.98-17.91), or cottonseed hulls (OR = 8.34; CI, 3.58-19.42) in the ration, and sourcing animals in a pen from multiple herds of origin (OR = 5.17; CI, 2.32-11.51). Factors negatively associated with positive culture status included urea (OR = 0.27; CI, 0.16-0.44), alfalfa, clover, or sorghum silage (OR = 0.31; CI, 0.12-0.79), and antimicrobials of the tetracycline class in the ration (within 2 weeks before sampling, OR = 0.04 and CI, 0.02-0.09; more than 2 weeks before sampling, OR = 0.23 and CI, 0.06-0.80). Since 18.3% of positive samples were on a single operation, a second model was constructed after excluding data from this operation. Three additional variables were retained in the second model, including grain-processing method (OR for dry roll, cracked, or unprocessed grain = 2.99; CI, 1.55-5.75), soybean meal (OR = 2.74; CI, 1.58-4.75), and use of a coccidiostat in the ration (OR for no coccidiostat = 4.50; CI, 2.03-10.01). Considering the increasing use of by-products of the biofuel industry as feeds, further investigation of the association between feeding brewers' grains and corn gluten and Salmonella recovery is warranted.

Use of epidemiologic information in targeted surveillance for population inference.

Epidemiologic information, including animal characteristics (e.g., observable risk factors or clinical signs) predisposing to animal disease, is frequently used for design of targeted surveillance systems, but this information is infrequently used for population inference. In this study, we report the evaluation of use of epidemiologic information for population inference in targeted surveillance in three animal disease scenarios. We adapted sampling theory using Monte Carlo methods to determine target population sample size to detect disease with 95% confidence, using information from the epidemiologic parameters risk ratio and fraction of the population with the characteristic. These parameters and their uncertainties were derived from a reference population. The next step was to use a second (sampled) population to evaluate effects of sampling the targeted population. The focus of the study was on estimation of prevalence. Our results showed that if one is less certain of the epidemiologic parameters, a rational decision is to model the input parameter distributions reflecting this uncertainty, thereby increasing the sample size above the minimum needed for the detection of the disease with a known confidence. Targeted surveillance is appropriate for prevalence estimation when one has representative and justifiable estimates of key epidemiologic parameters.

Relationship between herd size and annual prevalence of and primary antimicrobial treatments for common diseases on dairy operations in the United States.

Dairy operations in states representing 86% of the United States' national dairy herd were surveyed regarding the occurrence of common dairy diseases or disorders (digestive, respiratory, gastrointestinal, lameness, mastitis, navel infection) in specified production groups (weaned heifers, unweaned heifers, adult cows), and the most common antimicrobial preparation used to treat these conditions. Within disease and production group, disease frequency and characteristics of primary antimicrobial (drug class, availability, spectrum of activity, extra-label usage, withdrawal times) were compared among herd sizes (30-99, 100-499, and >/=500 cows) using chi-square or t-tests that accounted for the sampling design. The most common diseases were mastitis and lameness in cows, and gastrointestinal disease in unweaned calves, affecting 16, 11, and 15% of the target populations, respectively. Herd-level disease prevalence tended to increase as herd size increased, whereas within-herd prevalence tended to decrease as herd size increased. Broad-spectrum antimicrobials were selected as primary treatments by a majority of operations for nearly all diseases surveyed. When treating gastrointestinal disease, navel infection, or reproductive disorders, a majority of operations selected primary treatments not specifically labeled for that condition. Selection of over-the-counter preparations tended to decrease as herd size increased, whereas selection of broad-spectrum preparations tended to increase with herd size.

Evaluation of immunohistochemical detection of prion protein in rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue for diagnosis of scrapie in sheep.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the suitability and estimate the sensitivity of an immunohistochemical (IHC) test for disease-associated prion protein (PrP(Sc)) in biopsy specimens of rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) for diagnosis of scrapie in sheep. ANIMALS: 762 sheep at high risk for having scrapie and indemnified by the National Scrapie Eradication Program. PROCEDURES: The IHC test for PrP(Sc) was applied to 2 RAMALT and 2 third-eyelid biopsy specimens and a postmortem RAMALT specimen from each sheep. Results were compared with those of a reference test in which results for tissues from obex and retropharyngeal lymph nodes, tonsil, or both were considered in parallel. RESULTS: The reference test identified 139 sheep as having scrapie. Biopsy-related complications occurred in 3 sheep. Sensitivity of the IHC test in RAMALT ranged from 85.3% to 89.4%, depending on the anatomic location from which RAMALT was obtained. Results for the test applied to 1 RAMALT specimen were similar to results interpreted in parallel for 2 third-eyelid specimens (sensitivity, 87.0%). The proportion of inconclusive test results attributable to insufficient lymphoid follicles in biopsy specimens was lower when considering results for 2 RAMALT specimens in parallel (10.1%) than when considering results for 2 third-eyelid specimens in parallel (23.7%). Specimens of RAMALT that were inappropriately collected from an area caudal to the rectoanal interface yielded a high proportion of inconclusive results (33.3% to 50.0%). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The IHC test for PrP(Sc) in RAMALT was an effective means of detecting subclinical scrapie in live, high-risk sheep.

Risk factors for initial respiratory disease in United States' feedlots based on producer-collected daily morbidity counts.

The incidence of initial respiratory disease was followed for 12 weeks in 122 pens of feedlot cattle, based on producer-collected daily morbidity counts. Weekly incidence density was calculated based on the number of new cases and the population at risk. Incidence density was greatest in the 1st week after arrival and decreased in following weeks. Weekly incidence rate varied between pens and over time from 0 to 27.7 cases per 100 animal weeks at risk. A negative binomial model controlling for multiple events within pens and over time was used to model effects on the number of new cases. Mixed gender groups, cattle from multiple sources and increasing distance shipped were associated with increased risk for initial respiratory morbidity. Heavier entry weight was associated with decreased morbidity risk. These factors may be useful in categorizing groups of calves into risk groups for targeted purchase and management decision making.

Antimicrobial drug resistance of fecal Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. isolates from United States dairy cows.

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing concern for public and animal health. Threats to public health could come from the transfer of pathogens from animals to people via indirect contact such as through food or by direct contact with animals. In addition, concern has been raised for the potential transfer of resistance determinants from animals to humans through commensal bacterial flora such as Escherichia coli. Isolates of E. coli and Salmonella spp. from dairy cows on farms in 21 states were evaluated for resistance to a panel of 16 antimicrobial drugs. Resistance patterns for E. coli were compared to those of Salmonella spp. when they were isolated concurrently on the same farm or from the same fecal sample. Overall, most of the E. coli isolates (85.3%) and Salmonella spp. isolates (87.2%) were susceptible to all antimicrobials in the panel. The resistance profiles for E. coli with and without concurrent isolation of Salmonella were comparable with the exception of tetracycline resistance, which was more common among the E. coli isolated with Salmonella spp. The resistance patterns for E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolated concurrently were not significantly different for any of the antimicrobials evaluated. The data from this study demonstrate that the majority of commensal E. coli and Salmonella spp. recovered from feces of dairy cows harbored no resistance to a broad range of antimicrobial drugs. Further studies are indicated to better understand the factors that influence the frequency of resistance in commensal E. coli and Salmonella spp. on dairy operations.

Effect of antimicrobial dosage regimen on Salmonella and Escherichia coli isolates from feeder swine.

A body of evidence exists that suggests that antimicrobial use in food animals leads to resistance in both pathogenic and commensal bacteria. This study focused on the impact of three different antimicrobial regimes (low-level continuous, pulse, and no antimicrobial) for two antimicrobials (chlortetracycline and tylosin) on the presence of Salmonella spp. and on the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance of both Salmonella spp. and nonspecific Escherichia coli in fecal samples from feeder swine. The prevalence of fecal samples positive for Salmonella spp. significantly decreased between the samples taken at feeder placement compared to samples taken when the animals were close to market weight. Differences in resistance of Salmonella spp. did not appear to be influenced by dosing treatment including the control. Analysis of antimicrobial resistance examining both susceptibility and resistance, as well as MIC outcomes, demonstrated that only resistance to cephalothin increased in E. coli under the pulse chlortetracycline treatment. These results suggest that the dosing regimes examined in this study did not lead to an increase in either the prevalence of Salmonella spp. or the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in isolates of Salmonella spp. or E. coli.

Monte Carlo approaches for determining power and sample size in low-prevalence applications.

The prevalence of disease in many populations is often low. For example, the prevalence of tuberculosis, brucellosis, and bovine spongiform encephalopathy range from 1 per 100,000 to less than 1 per 1,000,000 in many countries. When an outbreak occurs, epidemiological investigations often require comparing the prevalence in an exposed population with that of an unexposed population. To determine if the level of disease in the two populations is significantly different, the epidemiologist must consider the test to be used, desired power of the test, and determine the appropriate sample size for both the exposed and unexposed populations. Commonly available software packages provide estimates of the required sample sizes for this application. This study shows that these estimated sample sizes can exceed the necessary number of samples by more than 35% when the prevalence is low. We provide a Monte Carlo-based solution and show that in low-prevalence applications this approach can lead to reductions in the total samples size of more than 10,000 samples.

Comparison of milk and serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for diagnosis of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis infection in dairy cattle.

Milk and serum samples from 35 dairy herds in 17 states were evaluated for cow- and herd-level Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) antibody test agreement. Evaluation of 6,349 samples suggested moderate agreement between milk and serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results, with a kappa value of 0.50. Cow-level sensitivity (Se) for 18 dairy operations with 1,921 animals was evaluated relative to fecal culture results. At the cow level, the milk ELISA relative Se was not significantly different from that of the serum ELISA (21.2 and 23.5%, respectively). Logistic regression models revealed a positive association between lactation number and milk ELISA status. Non-Holstein cows were more likely to test milk ELISA positive than Holstein cows. Cows in the first 2 weeks of lactation and after week 45 of lactation were more likely to test milk ELISA positive than cows between 3 and 12 weeks of lactation. Milk production > 80% of herd average was negatively associated with testing milk ELISA positive. Animals in the West and Midwest regions were less likely than animals in the Southeast region to test ELISA positive by either test. Estimates for herd-level sensitivity for the milk and serum ELISA, relative to fecal culture results, ranged from 56 to 83%. At the cow and herd levels, milk ELISA performed equivalent to serum ELISA using fecal culture as a reference for MAP infection and has the advantage of decreased labor costs on farms that use Dairy Herd Improvement Association testing.

The Epidemiology of Bacterial Diseases in Food-Size Channel Catfish.

Enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) and columnaris are the most economically important bacterial diseases affecting the channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus industry in the United States. Although these two diseases have been extensively researched, little is known about their prevalence and epidemiology in production systems. In 1997, a two-part survey of catfish producers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi was conducted to estimate the proportion of ponds and catfish operations that have these diseases and to develop information on the risk factors associated with reporting an occurrence. The response rates to the two phases of the survey were 65.6% and 75.3%, respectively. Overall, 78.1% of all operations and 42.1% of all ponds experienced problems with ESC/columnaris. Higher percentages of large operations and ponds on large operations experienced these problems. The most frequently reported average loss per outbreak of the two diseases was 200-2,000 lb (1 lb = 0.454 kg) per outbreak. Univariate analysis and multivariable regression modeling of the survey data identified three possible risk factors associated with ESC/columnaris, namely, operation size, stocking density, and feeding rate. Conversely, operations that produced their own fingerlings and those that drained ponds at intervals of 3 years or less were less likely to report losses. The associations identified in this study do not establish firm causal relationships, but they do generate hypotheses about managerial and environmental interactions that represent substantial risks to production.

Risk of removal and effects on milk production associated with paratuberculosis status in dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects on production and risk of removal related to Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) infection at the individual animal level in dairy cattle. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. ANIMALS: 7,879 dairy cows from 38 herds in 16 states. PROCEDURE: A subset of dairy cattle operations that participated in the National Animal Health Monitoring System Dairy 2002 study was evaluated via a serum ELISA for antibodies against MAP and categorized according to ELISA score. Dairy Herd Improvement Association records were obtained to collect current and historical lactation data and removal (ie, culling) information. Production variables were evaluated on the basis of serum ELISA category. RESULTS: Cows with strong positive results had mature equivalent (ME) 305-day milk production, ME 305-day maximum milk production, and total lifetime milk production that were significantly lower than cows in other categories. No differences were observed for ME 305-day fat and protein percentages, age, lactation, and lactation mean linear somatic cell count score between cows with strong positive results and those with negative results. After accounting for lactation number and relative herd-level milk production, cows with strong positive results were significantly more likely to have been removed by 1 year after testing. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Without management changes designed to reduce the farm-level prevalence of MAP infection, paratuberculosis will continue to reduce farm income by decreasing milk production and potentially increasing premature removal from the herd.

Effect of intensity of fecal pat sampling on estimates of Escherichia coli O157 prevalence.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate site-to-site variation within fecal pats from cattle with regard to detection of Escherichia coli O157 and determine the effect on the accuracy of prevalence estimates of assay of multiple samples collected from the same fecal pat. SAMPLE POPULATION: 120 freshly voided fecal pats collected from 2 beef feedlots. Procedures-5 samples were systematically collected from each fecal pat and analyzed for E coli O157 via selective preenrichment techniques, immunomagnetic separation, and biochemical tests. Presumptive isolates were definitively identified via agglutination assays and polymerase chain reaction techniques. Best estimators of prevalence were calculated from the distribution of E coli O157-positive samples per pat. RESULTS: Of the 120 fecal pats, 96, 13, 4, 2, 3, and 2 fecal pats had 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 E coli O157-positive samples, respectively. The greatest estimate of E coli O157 prevalence (20%) was achieved when all 5 samples were assessed; this estimate represented a 2.4- fold increase in prevalence, compared with that provided via analysis of 1 sample/pat (8.2%). Compared with assessment of 5 sites/pat, the relative sensitivity of detecting an E coli O157-positive fecal pat via analysis of 1 site/pat was 40.1%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that estimates of E coli O157 prevalence derived from sampling of 1 location/pat are likely underestimates of the true prevalence of this pathogen in fecal pats (and by extension, cattle). Additional research is warranted to confirm these results in situations of high and low prevalence and across different feedlots.

Evaluation of surveillance and sample collection methods to document freedom from infectious bovine rhinotracheitis in cattle populations.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the sensitivity of the current surveillance program used in Denmark for detecting outbreaks of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) at the herd level and to evaluate the impact of alternative sample collection strategies on the sensitivity of the system in an acceptable time frame. SAMPLE POPULATION: Data from the Danish Central Husbandry Register on cattle of 24,355 and 25,233 beef herds and on 13,034 and 12,003 dairy herds in the years 2000 and 2001, respectively. PROCEDURES: Surveillance programs were evaluated under current sample collection conditions and under 3 alternative scenarios by use of simulation modeling. Data from the current detection component of the surveillance system were used as input, taking into consideration the sensitivity and specificity of bulktank milk and serologic testing. RESULTS: The current system identifies infected dairy herds within a 3-month period with desired accuracy largely because of the test characteristics and number of bulk-tank milk samples. The system is less likely to detect infected beef herds in a timely manner because surveillance in beef herds depends solely on serologic testing at the time of slaughter. The efficiency of surveillance in dairy cattle herds was not decreased substantially when the slaughter-surveillance component was omitted. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Geographically targeted sample collection during the high-risk season (winter) was predicted to increase the probability of rapid detection of IBR infection in cattle. This approach can be used for assessing other surveillance systems to determine the best strategies for detection of infected herds.

Risk factors associated with herd-level exposure of cattle in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota to bluetongue virus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate herd-level risk factors for seropositive status of cattle to 1 or more bluetongue viruses. ANIMALS: 110 herds of cattle in Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. PROCEDURE: Blood samples were collected before and after the vector season. Samples were tested for antibodies against bluetongue virus by use of a commercially available competitive ELISA. Factors evaluated included descriptors of geographic location and management practices. Trapping of insect vectors was conducted to evaluate vector status on a subset of 57 operations. A multivariable logistic regression model was constructed to evaluate associations. RESULTS: For the full data set, altitude and latitude were associated with risk of having seropositive cattle (an increase in altitude was associated with an increase in risk, and a more northerly location was associated with a decrease in risk of a premise having seropositive cattle). Import of cattle from selected states was associated with an increase in risk of having seropositive cattle. From the subset of herds with data on vector trapping, altitude and latitude were associated with risk of having seropositive cattle, similar to that for the full model. However, commingling with cattle from other herds was associated with a decrease in risk of seropositivity. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings reported here may be useful in generating additional hypotheses regarding the ecologic characteristics of bluetongue viruses and other vector-borne diseases of livestock. Sentinel surveillance programs are useful for documenting regionalization zones for diseases, which can be beneficial when securing international markets for animals and animal products.

Seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis infection among dairy cows in Colorado and herd-level risk factors for seropositivity.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate seroprevalence of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis (MAP) infection among adult dairy cows in Colorado and determine herd-level factors associated with the risk that individual cows would be seropositive. DESIGN: Cross-sectional observational study. ANIMALS: 10,280 adult (> or = 2 years old) dairy cows in 15 herds in Colorado. PROCEDURE: Serum samples were tested with a commercial ELISA. A herd was considered to be infected with MAP if results of mycobacterial culture of > or = 1 individual cow fecal sample were positive or if > or = 1 culled cow had histologic evidence of MAP infection. RESULTS: 424 of the 10,280 (4.12%) cows were seropositive. Within-herd prevalence of seropositive cows ranged from 0% to 7.82% (mean, 2.6%). Infection was confirmed in 11 dairies. Cows in herds that had imported > or = 8% of their current herd size annually during the preceding 5 years were 3.28 times as likely to be seropositive as were cows in herds that imported < 8%. Cows in herds with > or = 600 lactating cows were 3.12 times as likely to be seropositive as were cows in herds with < 600 lactating cows. Cows in herds with a history of clinical signs of MAP infection were 2.27 times as likely to be seropositive as were cows in herds without clinical signs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Annual importation rate, herd size, and whether cows in the herd had clinical signs typical of MAP infection were associated with the risk that individual cows would be seropositive for MAP infection.

Factor analysis of minimum-inhibitory concentrations for Escherichia coli isolated from feedlot cattle to model relationships among antimicrobial-resistance outcomes.

Factor analysis was used to assess relationships in the minimum-inhibitory concentration among 17 antimicrobials tested on isolates of Escherichia coli isolated from 360 faecal samples obtained from feedlot cattle. Six factors were extracted using maximum-likelihood factor analysis. The factors were interpretable antimicrobial groupings based on class of antimicrobial and previously described associations. New-generation cephalosporins, older-generation beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides grouped separately as classes of antimicrobials on four of the six factors. One of the remaining factors was a grouping of antimicrobials that had been identified as being related in previous feedlot studies. The last factor was a grouping of three of the five antimicrobials that comprise the antimicrobials found in penta-resistant strains of Salmonella Typhimurium. The factor analysis described patterns in the MIC data that would not have been apparent if only antimicrobial-resistance data categorized as susceptible-resistance had been analysed.

Comparison of sampling techniques for measuring the antimicrobial susceptibility of enteric Escherichia coli recovered from feedlot cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of various sampling techniques for determining antimicrobial resistance patterns in Escherichia coli isolated from feces of feedlot cattle. SAMPLE POPULATION: Fecal samples obtained from 328 beef steers and 6 feedlot pens in which the cattle resided. PROCEDURE: Single fecal samples were collected from the rectum of each steer and from floors of pens in which the cattle resided. Fecal material from each single sample was combined into pools containing 5 and 10 samples. Five isolates of Escherichia coli from each single sample and each pooled sample were tested for susceptibility to 17 antimicrobials. RESULTS: Patterns of antimicrobial resistance for fecal samples obtained from the rectum of cattle did not differ from fecal samples obtained from pen floors. Resistance patterns from pooled samples differed from patterns observed for single fecal samples. Little pen-to-pen variation in resistance prevalence was observed. Clustering of resistance phenotypes within samples was detected. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Studies of antimicrobial resistance in feedlot cattle can rely on fecal samples obtained from pen floors, thus avoiding the cost and effort of obtaining fecal samples from the rectum of cattle. Pooled fecal samples yielded resistance patterns that were consistent with those of single fecal samples when the prevalence of resistance to an antimicrobial was > 2%. Pooling may be a practical altemative when investigating patterns of resistance that are not rare. Apparent clustering of resistance phenotypes within samples argues for examining fewer isolates per fecal sample and more fecal samples per pen.